










,^'- 








o 



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o V 










THE LIFE 



OF 



OLIVER HAZARD PERRY 

WITH AN 

APPENblX, 

OMPRISING BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THE LATE, 
GENERAL PIKE AND CAPTAIN LAWRENCE, AND A 
VIEW OF THE PRESENT CONDITION AND FUTURE 
PROSPECTS OF THE NAVY OF THE UNITED STi^7E^. 



He 7net the enemy c;?rf f/ie;, zuere oursJ^ 



BY JOHN i\K N?LFS\ ESQ 



HARTFORD 

PUBLISHED BY WILLIAM S. MARSH, 

R. Slorrs.... Printer. 
1320. 



DISTRICT OF Connecticut, s^. 

^ g BE IT REMEMBERED, 1 hat oo tbe eleventh day ai 
June 'II the t'orty-fonrtb year of the iadependence of 
the United States of America, WILLIAM S. MARSH, of the 
said district, hath deposited in this office the title of a Book, the 
right whereof he claioas as proprietor, in the words following, to 
TV it : 

" The life of Oliver Hazard Perry, with an Appendix, com- 
prising biographical sketches of the late General Pike and Capt, 
Lawrence; and a view of the present crndition and fiitnre pros- 
pects of the Navy of the United States. ' He met the enemy 
and they were ours.' By John M. Niles, Esq." 

lu coni'orraity to the act ot the Congress of the United States, 
entitled, " An act few the enconragempot of learning, by secur- 
ing the copies of Maps, Charts and Books to the authors and pro- 
prietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned." 
CHARLES A. INGERSOLL, 
Clerk of the District of Connecticut. 
A true copy of record, examined by me, 

CHARLES A. INGERSOLL, 
Clerk of the District of Connecticut 



tmaif A©M* 



TiiE ingratitude of Republics to their distinguisli- 
zd benefactors and heroes, has long been proverbial. 
But this opinion, like many others with relation to 
Republican governments, had it« origin in the exam- 
ples of Greece and Rome, and so far as it imports 
that ingratitude to those who render important ser» 
vices to their country, is peculiar to, or in any way 
a consequence of, Republican institutions, is entire- 
ly unfounded. We speak of the sense of a nation, 
not of its policy. That the policy of monarchial and 
aristocratical governments, is difTererit from that of 
Republics v/ith relation to this subject, is admittedo 
The former are governments of men^ the latter of 
lanis. They are founded not only upon ditferent 
principles, but upon those which are directly oppo- 
site. The former is established upon the basis of 
social distinctiGns — the latter upon that of the equal- 
ity of mankind. — To exalt and ennoble a few, at the 
expense of the rest, is not only co:isistent with the 
general views and policy of a monarchial govern- 



^•V PREFACE. 

ment, but forms a part of the government itself.— 
The ' Corinthian capitals of society,'* form the prin- 
cipal feature in its constitution. It is necessary^ 
therefore, in such governments to confer titles, dig- 
nities and estates, and that these are sometimes con- 
ferred according to merit, must be admitted. But the 
question is, whether a government of this description 
is more favourable than a Republic to the apprecia- 
tion of real merit and services. It is ridiculous, we 
think, to contend that it is. Where there is so much 
artificial and hereditarif greatness, dignity and conse- 
quence, real merit, talents and services must be ex= 
posed to serious obstacles. Let it not be said that 
monarchial governments, from their power of con- 
ferring titles, and creating an hereditary nobility, 
possess more ample means of rewarding distinguish- 
€d public services, than Republics. Titles at best 
are but an empty reward, and in this country they are 
altogether despised. The names of Benjamin Frank- ■ 
^in, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, con- 
vey to the mind more just and distinct ideas of exal- 
ted patriotism, of distinguished public services, and 
of real greatness, than could be done by any titles 
which could have been given them. But if we were 
*A Dobility are thus denooiinated by Edmnnd Bnrkp 



PREFACE. V 

to concede all iliat the greatest advocate for n^.onar- 
chj would claim, as to the importance of the power 
of conferring titles, and creating an hereditary nobil- 
ity, as a means of rewarding public services, the ad- 
vantages of this power, with reference to this object, 
are infinitely less than the disadvantages and embar- 
rassments which arise from it. In a Republican 
government, the proper and legitimate reward for 
distinguished public services, (in addition to the na- 
tion's gratitude and admiration,) is the honours and 
emoluments of pubHc offices and employments. But 
in a monarchy, the titled and hereditary great-men, 
engross nearly all of these, leaving to real talents and 
dittiiignishcd services, little chance of sharing in 
these honours and distinctions. If it is said that it i^ 
the nation, ratlicr than its government, to whom its 
distinguished benefactors are to look for their reward^ 
we would ask v.'hethcr there is any thing in aristo- 
Gratical institutions, wliicli gives the people a more 
lively sense of justice ; whether they are more iniel- 
ligent^ Tvhich enal>les them more jiistly to appreciate 
public merit, or have more interest in public aili^irs, 
which more strongly inclines them to reward it, than 
they have in a Republic. It we are told that in the 
ancient democraiica! governments to which wp 



>J PREFACE. 

have referred, those who had rendered their coaii- i 
try the most important services, were often the vic- 
tims of popular prejudice or indignation, we reply 
that those governments being without any fixed and 
permanent principles, were governments oimen, and 
in this particular more resembled the aristocratical 
than the systematic and well regulated Republican 
governments of the present day. We also reply that 
examples of like ingratitude are to be found in all the 
feudal monarchies of Europe, particularly in Eng- 
land. In that country examples are not wanting of 
individuals distinguished for their services for the 
crown, the nation, and thepeople, having fallen vie- 
lims to court intrigues and royal displeasure. Of 
the first, Wolsey, Raleigh, Essex, and many others, 
are distinguished examples, and the two last, i 
comprise most of the enlightened and distinguished 1 
patriots of that country — her Sidneys, Russels and 
Emmets. 

That the charge of the ingratitude of Republics is 
unfounded the history of this country fully demon^ 
strates. Whilst it does not furnish a single impor- 
tant example in support of this opinion, it affords nu- 
merous distinguished examples to the contrary.— 
Among the most conspicvious of these^ is that whic^ 



PREFACE. Vll 

IS the subject of the following volume. However 
splendid the achievements, or important the services 
of Perry mav be considered, it must be admitted that 
they were duly appreciated, and suitably rewarded 
by his country. With the man of a cultivated under- 
standing and refined sense of honour, the homage of 
a nation's respect and admiration, is the most grate» 
ful reward. Compared to this titles and dignities 
are a mere " sound of brass and tinkling cymbal." 
They may please the ear, but cannot reach the heart. 
Such are the rewards of our country, which in an 
eminent degree, were enjoyed by our youthful hero. 
In his life he was the subjectof the admiration of his 
country — in his death, of its sorrow. The respect 
which was felt for his virtues and services, was trans- 
lated into reverence for his memory — into venera- 
tion for his example. His memory will long be cher- 
ished, and defying oblivion's power, the lapse of 
time will consecrate his name and virtues. 

These considerations have occasioned, and we 
trust will justify the following volume. How far its 
execution may correspond with the importance and 
merits of the subject, is submitted to the public. In 
addition to a faithful account of the life of Perry, we 
have aimed to give the work as much historic valu*^ 



Vlii PREFACE. 

as would consist with the design of it, and have em- 
bodied a history of the war upon the north-western 
frontier, which was so gloriously terminated in the 
victories of lake Erie and the Thames. We have al- 
so given a brief account of the Tripolitan vv^ar of 
1801, not so much in consequence of the concern 
Perry had in it as in consideration of its being the 
great practical school of most of our naval ofllcers. 
and of its general influence upon their character, in 
which Perry shared in common with others. The 
geographical information and topographical descrip- 
tions, as to the western lakes and the country bor- 
dering upon them, may be considered more ample 
than the nature of the work would justify ; but when 
hiformation is attempted to be given upon any subject 
a mustbe somewhat complete, or it is entirely useless. 
The facts and materials which the work comprises, 
have been derived from authentic sources, and what- 
ever may be thought of it in other respects, it is hum- 
bly believed, that so far as industry in research, and 
care in compilation, can ensure historic correctness 
and accuracy of detail, it possesses these essential 
characteristics. THE AUTHOR- 



CONTENTS; 



CHAPTER I. 

Introductory remarks— Perry's birth— his ancestry^sketch of 
the life of his father — his fathers family— state of his health 
and constitution when a child — early indications of intellect — 
observations on that subject — Perry's education — his entry in* 
fn the naval service of his country. p. 13 

CHAPTER II. 

Perry's entry on board the General Green, commanded by hUs 
father— first cruise of the General Green on the Havanna 
station— her subsequent cruises — incident ivith a British 74— 
General Green visited the port of Jacmael— assisted in the re- 
duction of that place— Perry leaves the General Green at the 
reduction of the navy — sails for the Mediterranean i7i 1801— 
ii promoted to an acting Lieutenancy— -returns — i?i 1804. sails 
again for the Mediterranean — commencement of differences 
between the United States and the Regency of Tripoli — action 
between the American schooner Enterprise and Tripolitan 
Corsair— Com. Dale sails with a squadron for the Mediterra- 
nean—blockades Tripoli — in 1803 another squadron sent out 
under Com- Preble — differences with the Emperor of Moroc-^ 
CO — loss of the Philadelphia — her re-caftxire by Lieut, Deca- 
'ur— attack upon Tripoli, S{c» p. 2^ 



:.C CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER HI. 

The embarrassment of our commerce — the restriciive measure^— 
employment of the navy in consequenze thereof — Perry com" 
mands a Jiotilla of gun boats— is transferred to the Revenge- 
assists the Diana in distress— loss of the Revenge — declaration 
of var — stale of the navy at that time — Perry appointed to 
command a Jiotilla of gun boats—is transferred to the Lakes 
—capture of Caledonia and Detroit — capture of York — Perry 
ordered to superintend the building a feet at Erie—haves 
there to asssist in the attack upon Fort George — vessels 
built at Erie got over the bar — Perry sails with the squadron, 
and retires to Put-in-Bay — preceding events of the rear upon 
the northwestern frontier — General Hull's army — his ivasion 
qf Canada — the employment of the Indians by the British- 
Hull's retreat and capitulation— General Harrison's cam^ 
paign — defeat of General JVinchcster — Fort Meigs — Col. Dud* 
ley's defeat—gallant defence of Fort Stephenson, p, 54 

CHAPTER IV. 

Remarks on the vicissitudes of war — Perry arrives ivith his 
squadron off the mouth ofSandvsky I'iver — sails a7id reconnoi^ 
ires Ike enemy at 3!ald<:n, and returns to Puf-in-Bay—re- 
2narks or. the repose which preceded the actinn, and its impor- 
tance — particular account of the acfioji of the ^Oth September 
■ — some incidents and anecdotes— force of the two fleets — their 
loss — remarks on the victory — the fleet cniicenf rates the troops 
at Put-in-Bay — lands them below MoMen — the enemy evacu- 
ates that pla-e — is pwsued to Sandwich— thence to the Mora- 
vian town on the Thames — the decisive victory at that place, 
and capture of Proctor's army — hvma7iity of the Jmeticans 
— the troops reimmto Detroit — Indians sue for peace — provis- 
ional government established in the conquered disirict of Vp' 
per Canada— Harrison and Perry p-oc^sO (^rnrnibe lake to 
Buffalo. p. "i^"^ 



CONTENTS. ^ 

CHAPTER V. 

Memarks on the consequences of the victory of hake Erie — coU" 
dition of the north-western frontier at the time Perry arrived 
there — its situation when he left it — the scene of the victory- 
is calculated to swell its importance^ and perpetuate its fame— 
the great valley of the St. Lawrence — importance of the acqui- 
sition of the Canadas — ample general view o^' the vast chain of 
water communication which drains this great valley— partic- 
ular description of Lake Erie and iti> borders^ which were the 
scenes of the war — the Irylian country in the state of Ohio—^ 
general view of the territory if Michigan, and that vast region 
nest of lake Michigan, and south of lake Superior — general 
view of the north-western districts in Upper Canada, the scene 
of the war in that province. p. 173 

CHAPTER VL 

The victory of the lOth September^ occasions a general rejoicing 
throughout the Union — the illumination at Philadelphia-^ 
Perry promoted to the rank of Captain in the navy — He prO" 
uedsfrom Buffalo to Albany— tribute of respect shewn to hini 
at that place— proceeds thence to Newport, where he is receiv- 
ed with admiration — a gold medal presented to him by order of 
Congress — Perry leaves Newport for ff^ashington— public 
dinner given him in New-York — also at the seat of govern- 
ment — a most splendid entertainment given in honour of him 
on his return, at Baltimore — is assigned to command on the 
Newport station— public dinner given in honour of him at BoS" 
ton — assists a Swedish brig at Newport — visits the eastern coast 
—after the capture of Washington, Perry repaired thither— 
commanded a battery to annoy the enemy in going down the 
river— is at Baltimore at the attack upon that place— is ap- 
pointed to superintend the equipment of the Java, p. 225 



XU CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER VII. 

The Java is brovght to Newport— Perry assists in rescuing ship- 
wrecked seamen — sails in the Java for the Mediterranean — dif- 
ference between the United States and the Regency of Algiers'— 
hostile proceedings ofthelatter in 1812 — United States declare 
war in 1815— Decatur^ s squadron arrived at Gibraltar in 
May, same year — capture of an Algerine frigate and brig— 
a negociation follows — a treaty concluded— the squadron pr»- 
ceeds to Tunis — thence to Tripoli — the ratified copy of the 
treaty carried mit by the Java— was at first rejected by the 
Dey, who became greatly enraged — dispute between CommO" 
dore Perry and Captain Heath— another treaty concluded with 
the Dey by Commodore Chauncey — Perry in thp Java returns 
to the United States — duel between Perry and Heath — in 1819, 
Perry sails for the Orinoco — incidents of that voyage— re- 
marks on the country, government, ^c— proceeds to Port 
Spain— his death and burial. p. 253 

CHAPTER VIII. 

General remarks on the human character — the character of Per- 
ry — his public career— his personal services in the action upon 
lake Erie— his humanity after the victory— his patriotism arid 
devotion to the service — his death regarded as a public calami- 
ty— public demonstrations of sorrow — the imvioriality of his 
fame. p. 301 

APPENDIX 

Biography of Gen, Pike, p. 317 

of Capt, Lawrence, p, 338 



LIFE 



OF 



®®mo iPiEiBiEir. 



CHAPTER I. 

Introduciory remarks — Perry'' s birth; his ancestry- 
sketch of the life of his father— his f ather'' s fami- 
ly — state of his health and constitution when a 
child — early indications of intellect — observations 
on that subject — Perry^s education — his entry into 
the naval service of his country, 

THE Deity, in the infinite wisdom in which 
he has created all things, seems to have ordered that 
no individual of the human species, however selfish 
his character, or insulated his situation, should live 
wholly for himself. Not only individual wants and 
dependence, but that necessity, of a participation 
with others, in those enjoyments which may be con- 
sidered as most peculiarly belonging to the posses- 
sor, the principles of which are implanted in hu- 
man nature, and which every one feels, tend to give 
to mankind a social character, and in some meas- 
ure to weaken individual, and to create an aggre- 
gate or common interest among the different mem- 

2 



14 ' LIFE OF 

bers of the human family. The numerous obliga- 
tions and duties arising from the social relations, ex- 
tend the sphere of influence, and render every in- 
dividual of some importance to others ; and give 
each a character of contributing something towards 
the general welfare and happiness, or the detriment 
and injury of his species. All, whilst living, possess 
an influence which extends beyond themselves, and 
are, it is to be presumed, in some way useful ; but 
there are few, whose usefulness does not cease with 
their existence ; few who have been so fortunate, or 
so pre-eminently distinguished for talents and virtue, 
as to extend the limits of their influence beyond 
their lives. Yet there are some of this description : 
the great and the wise, are not only useful whilst 
living, but their example continues its instruction as 
long as it is preserved. It is consecrated by death, 
and rendered more sacred, and more happy and ex- 
tensive in its influence. It is a mantle of inspiration, 
which instructs and animates ; exalts the character, 
elevates the views, gives to ambition its proper di- 
rection, and to virtue its proper ascendency. Hence 
the propriety of preserving a record of the lives of 
the great and the good. It is from the influence of 
these sentiments that we have supposed it important 
to preserve the history of the individuals in our juve- 
nile republic, who have been distinguished for their 
talents, their virtues, their learning or their fortune, 
whereby they have contributed to the reputation, the 
bonor, or the prosperity of their country. — Among 



OLIVER H. PERRY. liJ 

these individuais it will be conceded that the one 
who is the subject of this memoir, sustains, in the 
estimation of the citizens of the United States, a 
conspicuous rank. 

Oliver Hazard, son of Christopher Raymond 
and Sarah Alexander Perry, was born August 
21st, A. D. 1785, at South-Kingston, an interesting 
maritime township, distinguished for the nautical 
character of its inhabitants, situated on the waters of 
the Narragansett, (opposite to the town of Newport,) 
in the County of Washington, and State of Rhode- 
Island. Christopher Raymond, the father of Oliver 
Hazard, was the son of the Hon. Freeman Perry, 
who was a man of talents and distinction, and held 
many important offices, having been at different pe- 
riods of his life, clerk of the court for the county, a 
judge, &;c. ; the duties of which numerous offices 
and trusts, he discharged with faithfulness and ability. 
He died at South-Kingston, at the advanced age of 
82, in October, 1813, having lived to witness the 
blaze of Glory which surrounded bis descendant, the 
gallant Oliver Hazard, his grandson. 

Of the more distant ancestors of Commodore Per- 
ry, we are informed that on the maternal side, he was 
descended in a direct line from William WallacCj 
distinguished in the history and wars of Scotland. 
In the paternal line, his great-great-grandfather lived 
\n Wales, in Great-Britain ; who had three sons, 
Samuel, Edward, and Benjamin, who emigrated to 
America. The two former were among the early 



16 LIFE OP 

settlers of the colony of Plymouth, and the latter, 
the youngest, and the lineal ancestor of our hero, 
settled at South-Kingston, in Rhode-Island. He had 
two sons, Edward and Freeman, and two daughters? 
Marj and Susan. Freeman, who we have already 
mentioned as the grand-father of Oliver Hazard, had 
seven children, Joshua, Oliver Hazard, Christopher 
Raymond, Elizabeth, Mary, Susan and George Haz- 
ard. 

Christopher Raymond, the third son of Freeman 
Perry, and the father of Oliver Hazard, was born at 
South-Kingston, in 1761. Although but a youth at 
the commencement of the revolutionary war, he par- 
ticipated largely in the dangers and hardships of that 
trying period, and was often engaged, both in the 
military and naval service. 

He was first employed as a seaman on board an 
American privateer, commanded by Capt. Reed, and 
afterwards served as a volunteer on board of th» 
Trumbull, a public vessel of war. He was also a 
volunteer on board the Miifiin sloop of war, com- 
manded by George Wait Babcock, and while in this 
service was taken by the enemy, and for three 
!Bonths was immured in the infamous Jersey prison 
vhip. Here, in common with thousands of hiscoun- 
irymen, he sutfered, from the loathsomeness of his 
situation, the badness of provisions, and other causes, 
all that human nature could bear. He was among the 
few who survived the sufferings and horrors of this situ- 
ation. But he only survived, having been severely 



OLIVER H. PERRY, 17 

attaclced by a fever, occasioned by his situation, and 
the desolating contagion that surrounded the place, 
which nearly proved fatal. But his sufferings and 
dangers did not check his ardour or overcome his 
spirit. After his liberation and the restoration of his 
health, he again entered the naval service, on hoard 
a private armed brig commanded by Capt, Rathbone, 
and whilst cruising in the English channel was again 
taken prisoner, and confined for eighteen months in 
England ; having at the end of that period, escaped 
from confinement ; and, leaving a country which had 
been to him only a prison, he soon embarked for St, 
Thomas, and from thence for Charleston, where he 
arrived about the time of the conclusion of the 
treaty of peace. After the establishment of peace 
between the United States and Great-Britain, in 
1783, he engaged in his favorite maritime pursuits, 
being employed in the East-India and other trade 
until in or about the year 1798, when he was ap- 
pointed to the command of the United States' ship 
General Green. While in this commmand he per- 
formed several cruises, principally on the West-In- 
dia station, and continued in the public service until 
the reduction of the marine in 1801. Subsequently 
to this period, he received the appointment of col. 
lector of the revenue for the first district of Rhode- 
Island. In 1783, he married Sarah Alexander Wal- 
lace, a Scotch lady, who, the year preceding, came 
as a passenger to Philadelphia, in the same vessel of 
which Capt. Perry was then mate, under the 
2* 



18^' LIFE OF 

protection of Matthew Calbraith. Mrs. Perry was of 
a respectable family, and her connections in Scot- 
land comprised many individuals of consequence and 
distinction. Christopher Raymond, and Sarah Al- 
exander Perry, had eight children, Oliver Hazard, 
the subject of the present work, Raymond Henry, a 
Lieutenant in the Navy, and now in the Mediterra- 
nean, Matthew Calbraith, and James Alexander, both 
Lieutenants in the navy, Nathaniel Hazard, and 
three daughters. Christopher Raymond Perry died 
June 1st, 1818. 

Oliver Hazard, in early life, gave but little prom- 
ise of physical energy, being slender and feeble, and 
the state of his health extremely delicate ; yet his 
size was more than ordinary, and it was supposed 
that the feebleness of his constitution, and the deli- 
cacy of his health, were owing, in a great measure, 
to the rapidity of his growth. But this physical imbe- 
cihty of constitution was, from its nature, soon over- 
come, and as he ripened towards manhood, his 
strength having become commensurate with his size, 
he was athletic and robust, and possessed an uncom- 
mon share of natural vigour and energy. At this 
period the size, stateliness and dignity of his person 
were uncommon and conspicuous. But these were 
not the only nor most important indications of his 
future character. At an early period he disclosed 
mental qualities, which were more sure presages of 
his future greatness — a mind sedate, studious and 
enquiring ; soaring, at an early age, beyond the 



OLIVER H. PERRV. 19 

trivial and ephemeral objects which usually circum- 
scribe the views and occupy the attention of youth. 
In these remarks we would not wish to be misunder- 
stood. We do not belong to that class who seem to 
suppose that every man who becomes distinguished, 
(even although his greatness may be rather fortuitous 
than the result of native powers,) must have been a 
prodigy when a child. Hence we find in the bio- 
graphical memoirs of most distinguished individuals, 
numerous stories and anecdotes, narrated with all 
the dignity of historic truth, tending to shew that the 
man who afterwards became such, was a great math- 
ematician, a great poet, or a great hero, even when 
a child, which had no existence in fact, or were so 
nearly allied to common occurrencs, as not to' have 
been a subject of observation at the time, and would 
never have been thought of afterwards, had it not 
been for the subsequent distinction of the individual. 
What can be more ridiculous ! But with this, as 
with most other subjects, there is a proneness in 
mankind to ascribe to novel and extraordinary cau- 
ses, what is the result of the ordinary principles of 
nature ; and among these principles there are none 
more apparent, although none more disregarded and 
abused, than that of the equality of mankind. In 
the nvoral as well as the physical attributes of our spe- 
cies, mankind are essentially equal. All have the 
same passions, and the same intellectual powers : 
the difference which exists is not in principle^ but in 
degree* We are not to expect prodigies in the shape 



20 LIFE OF 

of men ; and the prevalence of such ideas is to be 
regretted : as they are unfounded in fact, so they 
are pernicious in their consequences. No more ef- 
fectual way of degrading and oppressing maiikind, 
has eyer been devised — none has ever been more 
successful than that of exalting individuals of the hu- 
man family above humanity ; of rendering t^hem demi 
Gods, and secondary objects of adoration. From the 
exaltation of individuals, whole classes have been 
exalted ; and the same causes which raise one por- 
tion of the human family to sup-erior beings, degrade 
others to the brute creation. Let it not be thought 
that the delusion of paying " divine honors" to mor- 
tal men, has passed by. It exists at the present day, 
and has existed at all times. It is true that igno- 
rance and crediility are the support of such false and 
pernicious opinions ; but was there ever a time when 
igno^-ance and credulity did not exist. That some 
individuals have more innate bravery, and some 
more nafive genius and capacity than others, is ad- 
mitted : yet it does not even follow that such uni- 
formly, or perhaps more frequently than others, be- 
come distinguished. This shews how much depends 
upon education, industry, and the influence of favor- 
able circumstances, having a tendency to give a de- 
velopement and direction to the capacity of individ- 
uals. 

From these considerations we shall not trouble the 
reader with any details of the early feats and ex- 
ploits of our hero ; but sbai) consider him, whea ^ 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 21 

child, as like unto other children. We shall not 
claim that he was born a great man 5 but that he be- 
came such from a judicious and successful use of the 
powers given him, and from a concurrence of cir- 
cumstances, affording an opportunity for a display of 
those powers. We have remarked that when a boy, 
he was remarkably sedate and thoughtful, and con- 
sidered this circumstance as in some measure a pre- 
sage of his future character. It may be deemed so as 
much asany other, but no characteristic of a child can 
indicate the character of the man, as that depends 
upon a great variety of causes, some of which are 
more or less fortuitous in their nature, and cannot be 
controuled by human foresight. Levity of mind, 
although it is not altogether incompatible with a cer- 
tain species of talent, is never, however, associated 
with those mental qualities, which are requisite for 
the performance of great actions. It is to be expec- 
ted in youth; but the extention of its dominion to 
manhood, destroys the dignity, and in a great meas- 
ure the usefulness of the human character. A mind 
naturally serious, thoughtfal and enquiring, is seldom 
destitute of capacity and energy; and when these 
qualities are discernible in youth, a period in which 
levity and passion usually have an undisputed domin- 
ion, they may be considered as affording a promise 
of future talents, character, and usefulness, which 
few other characteristics disclose. 

The early education of Oliver Hazard was not 
neglected; although he did not enjoy very superior 



^2 LIFE Gl- 

ad vantages. He was principallj educated at New- 
port, and attended the best schools that place affor- 
ded. He was an ex( client scholar, remarkably stu- 
dious, and made great proficiency in every branch of 
learning to which his attention was directed. But 
his father having designed him for the navy, the peri- 
od of his education was very limited, and at the ear- 
ly age of fourteen, he was withdrawn from the peace- 
ful and pleasing pursuits of literature, to that profes- 
sion of which he became the brightest ornamentj 
and to that element which has been the scene of his 
glory and usefulnegs. 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 23 



CHAPTER II. 

Perry* s entry on board the General Green, commanded by his 
father— Jirst cruise of the General Green an the Havanna 
station — her subsequent cruises — incident with a British 74— 
General Green visited the port of Jacmael — assisted w the re- 
duction of that place — Perry haves the General Green at the 
reduction of the navy — sails for the Mediterranean in 1801 — 
is promoted to an acting Lieutenancy — returns — in 1804, sails 
again for the Mediterranean — commencement of differences 
between the United States and the Regency of Tripoli—action 
between the Americaii schooner Enterprise and Tripolitan 
Corsair— Com. Dale sails with a squadron for the Mediterra- 
nean — blockades Tripoli — in 1803 another squadron sent out 
under Com. Preble — differences with the Emperor of Moroc- 
co — loss of the Philadelphia — her re-capture by Lieut. Deca- 
tur— attack opnn Tripoli, Sfc. 

Oliver Hazard Perry commenced his naval 
career under the auspices of his father. In April 
1799, at the early age of fourteen, he received a mid- 
shipman's warrant, and entered on board the Gene- 
ral Green, commanded by his father. The first 
cruise of the General Green was on the Havanna 
station, and was one of great utility. She returned 
from her cruise on the 27th day of July following^ 
having, in so short a period, convoyed more than 
fifty mercantile vessels, bound to different ports in 
the United States. The important services which 
the General Green rendered our commerce, would 



24 LIFE or 

have been prolonged, had it not been for the preva- 
lence of a contagious disease among the crew, which 
obliged her to quit her station, and return to the Uni- 
ted States. This was the first voyage made by our 
youthful hero ; and it was here, under the nautical 
and moral guidance and instruction of paternal ex- 
perience and skill, that he was first initiated in the 
rudiments of that school of hardships and perils — a 
seafaring; life. It was here that he first became fa- 
miliar with that element upon which he was after- 
wards destined to act so conspicuous and useful a 
part. 

Oliver Hazard continued on board the General 
Green during her subsequent cruises, and profiting 
both by instruction and experience, he made rapid 
proficiency in naval tactics. On a cruise from New- 
Orleans to Havanna, with a brig under convoy, the 
General Green fell in with a British 74, on which 
occasion an incident occured, that, though unimpor- 
tant in itself, disclosed the bravery of the elder Per- 
ry, and the character of of the American navy, at j 
that early period. The British ship fired a shot at 
the brig to bring her to ; but neither the brig nor the 
General Green payingany attention to this, but keep- 
ing their course, a boat was dispatched from the 74 
to beard the brig ; upon which the General Green 
fired a shot at the boat, which brought her alongside, 
whereupon the 74 bore down and spoke the General \ 
Green, demanding the reason why her boat was fir- 
ed upon ; to which Capt. Perry replied that it was 



OLIVER H, PERRY. 25 

to prevent her boarding the brig, which was under 
his protection. To this the British captain observ- 
ed, that it was very surprising a British 74 gun ship 
could not examine a merchant brig ! " If she was a 
first rate ship,^' said Capt. Perry, " she should not 
do it to the dishonour of my flag." The captain of 
the 74 then in very polite terms, asked Capt. Perry 
if he would consent to the brig's being examined ; 
Capt. Perry assented, observing, however, that it 
would be useless, a? he was confident that no part of 
her cargo was liable to seizure. 

During the cruise of the General Green on the 
West-India station, in 1800, she visited the port of 
Jacniel, which at that time was invested by land by 
a detachment of the celebrated Toussaint's army. 
The General Green, after having cruised off the port 
for some time, and intercepted supplies destined for 
the relief of the garrison, assisted in the reduction 
of the place ; which, being closely besieged on the 
land side by Toussaint's army, and blockaded by 
the General Green, was soon reduced to a state of 
-starvation, and the whole garrison, consisting of more 
than 5000, surrendered to Toussaint. The General 
Green engaged three of the forts very warmly for 
some time, and obliged the enemy to evacuate the 
town and two of their forts, and retire to their stron- 
I gest fort; the colours of which, however, were soon 
hauled down. The damage sustained by the Amer- 
I ican frigate in this affair, was very inconsiderable, 

• 



26 LIFE OF 

a few shots in her sides, and some of her rigging cut 
away. 

The reduction of this place was at the time thought 
to be of great importance to the commerce of the 
United States. 

From the spirit, promptitude, and bravery dis- 
played in this aftair, and the occurrence with the 
British 74, it would seem that the father taught the 
son by exsimple as well as precept ; and that neither 
were lost upon him has been fully proved. 

Oliver Hazard continued on board the General 
Green until the reduction of the navy in 1801 . The 
same year, the Tripolitan corsairs having committed 
depredations upon our commerce in the Mediterra- 
nean, three frigates and a sloop of war were order- 
ed there for its protection. Perry was attached to 
the Adams frigate, one of the three, commanded by 
Capt. Campbell. This small squadron was active 
and useful. It afforded protection to a number of 
our mercantile vessels ; cleared the Mediterranean 
of the piratical flag, the Tripolitan cruisers being 
compelled to retire to their ports ; and blockaded 
Tripoli. — Perry returned to the United States in the 
year 1 803, having during this cruise in the Mediter- 
ranean, improved greatly in naval tactics, from ex- 
perience and observation, and been promoted to an 
acting Lieutenancy. This was a most wseful school 
to him, as well as to many other of our naval offi- 
cers ; and that he made a good use of the opportune 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 27 

ties which it afforded, will not be doubted. In 1 804, 
under his old commander Capt. Campbell, he sailed 
again for the Mediterranean ; Capt. Campbell com- 
manding one of the four frigates sent out as a rein- 
forcement to our squadron. Soon after this, he was 
appointed first Lieutenant of the Nautilus, in which 
situation he continued some time. Perry remained 
with our squadron in the Mediterranean, until the con- 
clusion of peace with Tripoli, when he returned to 
the United States, in the capacity of second Lieuten- 
ant of the Essex frigate, commanded by Com. Ro- 
gers. He was concerned, with the exception of the 
interval that he was absent, in the various opera- 
tions of our navy on this station ; and it was here 
that he caught the spirit, as well as the skill and ex- 
perience of naval warfare. It was here that his na- 
tive bravery was first disclosed, and his character, 
which subsequently has become a subject of just ad- 
miration, developed. 

From the connection which Perry had with the 
Tripolitan war, and as this may be considered as the 
school where most of our naval officers were first 
practically instructed in naval tactics, and hostile 
maritime operations, it will not be thought a digres- 
sion to give a more connected and particular history 
of it. 

In April, 1799, the Bashaw of Tripoli, under the 
influence of the capricious and arbitrary policy which 



28 LIFE OF 

directs the councils of that government, (if goveru- 
rnent it can be called,) peremptorily ordered away 
the American consul, then resident at Tripoli, un- 
less certain recent and novel demands which he had 
made upon the United States should be complied 
with. No depredations, however, were committed 
upon our commerce by the corsairs of Tripoli, until 
the year 1801, the Bashaw having, on the 10th of 
June, of that year, declared war against the United 
States. His cruisers were immediately ordered ta 
capture American vessels, and five were taken the 
same month ; and many more it is probable would 
have fallen into the hands of these pirates, had it not 
been for the precautionary measures which were 
adopted. In February preceding, Mr. Cathcart, 
the British consul at Tripoli, perceiving that all 
hopes of accommodation with the Regency were at 
an end, addressed a circular letter to the American 
consuls and agents in Etirope and Africa, advising 
them of the dispositions of the Bashaw towards the 
United States, and that he was convinced that the 
TripoHtans would commence hostilities within sixty 
days. In consequence of this information, many ves- 
sels of the United States in different ports in the 
Mediterranean were prevented from sailing, unless 
under convoy. Hostilities having been commenced 
by the Regency, there was no other course remain- 
ing for the government of the United States, but to 
chastise these pirates and freebooters. The first na- 



OLIVER H. PERRY 29 

val action that ensued, was in August following, off 
Malta, between the American schooner Enterprize, 
commanded by Capt. Sterrett, and a Tripolitan crui- 
ser ; the former had twelve guns, and a crew of nine- 
ty men ; the latter fourteen guns, and eighty-five 
men. The action continued for nearly two hours, 
and was fought with the greatest desperation. The 
corsair being unable to withs'tard the dreadful fire of 
the Enterprize, hauled dov/n hsr colours, upon which 
the crew of the Enterprize .eft their guns, and gave 
three cheers for victory : upon this the cruiser re- 
sumed the action, poured a broadside into the Enter- 
prize, hoisted her colours, and attempted to board. 
They were again overcome, and struck their colours 
the second time. Being ordered by Capt. Sterrett 
under his quarter, they had no sooner taken that po- 
sition, than they poured another broadside into the 
Enterprize, hoisting their bloody flag, and renewing 
the action once more. But they were soon over- 
come the third time by the brave and skilful crew 
of the Enterprize. When tlie cruiser renewed the 
action the third time, the crew of the Enterprize, 
indignant at such perfidious conduct, exclaimed, 
" fight on, and sink the perfidious villains to the bot- 
tom." But treacherous and vile as was their own 
conduct, they did not hesitate, the moment they 
perceived themselves in their power, to appeal in 
the most supplicating manner, to the mercy of their 
conquerors. The commander, to convince the 



30 LIFE OF 

Americans that he would oifer no more resistance, 
bending over the waist of the vessel, threw her col- 
ours into the sea. Notwithstanding the base and 
perfidious conduct of the Tripolitans, Capt. Sterrett 
was actuated by too just sentiments of bravery, to 
permit an unnecessary effusion of blood, or to con- 
tinue to fire upon the enemy after they had ceased 
all resistance, and when it was evident that it was no 
longer in their power to make any. The corsair 
was dreadfully shot to pieces ; her mizzen-mast shot 
away, numerous shots between wind and water, and 
fifty of her crew were killed and wounded. But the 
Enterprize did not lose a single man, although the 
action continued for nearly three hours.* Such is 
the difference between barbarian bravery and disci- 
plined valour and skill. 

Subsequently to this action, the same year, com- 
modore Dale, with a squadron of three frigates and a 
sloop of war, sailed from the United States for the 
Mediterranean. As we have already mentioned, 
Perry was on board one of these frigates. On the 
arrival of this squadron, Commodore Dale blockaded 
the port of Tripoli, and published a regular notifica- 
tion of the existence of the blockade. The pres- 
ence and operations of this squadron, afforded ex- 
tensive protection to the American commerce, and 
compelled the Tripolitan cruisers to retire to tbeic 
ports for safety. 

'^ Naval History of the United States. 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 31 

The subsequent jear the Constellation, under the 
command of Capt. Murray, sailed to the Mediterra- 
nean. During this and part of the following year, 
the Mediterranean squadron was under the com- 
mand of Commodore Morris, and its operations were 
unimportant, and occasioned much dissatisfaction, 
the conduct of the Commodore having been severe- 
ly censured ; but with what justice, we are not in the 
possession of information to determine. In 1803, 
the government resolved to prosecute the war with 
Tripoli with vigour and effect : accordingly, a squad- 
ron of seven sail was ordered to be fitted out for the 
Mediterranean. 

This squadron sailed from the United States on 
the 13th of August, under the command of Commo- 
dore Preble. It consisted of the Constitution of 44 
guns, on board of which was the Commodore ; the 
Philadelphia of 44; the Argus of 18; the Syren of 
16 ; the Nautilus of 16 ; the Vixen of 16, and the 
Enterprize of 14.* On the arrival of Com. Preble 
at Gibraltar, he learned that our affairs with Moroc- 
co had assumed a very suspicious aspect. A Moor- 
ish brig captured by Capt. Bainbridge, was discover- 
to have orders to cruise for American vessels, by the 
authority of which it had captured an American brig ; 
the Emperor, however, denied having given any or- 
ders of this description. After this, another act of 
hostility was committed ; an order was issued to seize) 

*Na?al History of the United States, 



32 LIFE OF 

all American vessels at Mogadore, and the brig Han- 
nah, of Salem, was actually seized. This conduct 
of the Emperor determined Commodore Preble to 
adopt more decisive measures. He accordingly 
gave orders to bring in, for examination, all Moor- 
ish vessels ; and on the 5tli of October, the Empe- 
ror of Morocco being expected at Tangiers, the 
Commodore appeared with a part of his squadron, off 
that port. This spirited conduct had the desired 
effect. The next day a present was sent to the 
American squadron ; the brig which had been de- 
tained at Mogadore was released, and in a few days 
the Commodore and American Consul, were invited 
loan audience with the Emperor ; at which, he ex- 
pressed much regret that any differences had arisen, 
and said that he was desirous to beat peace with the 
United States. By this spirited and vigorous con- 
duct of Commodore Preble, the Emperor of Moroc- 
co was deterred from hostilities with the United 
States, upon which he had probably determined. 

Our differences with Morocco being thus prompt- 
ly adjusted. Commodore Preble was left at liberty to 
act, with his whole force, against Tripoli ; but the 
season was too far advanced to admit of active ope- 
rations ; and, soon after, an accident occurred which 
reduced his force, and in some measure interrupted 
his views. It was the loss of the Philadelphia, under 
circumstances peculiarly unfortunate and distressing. 
On the morning of the 3 1st of October, the PhiladeJ- 



OLIVER H. PERRY. ;"> 

phia, under the command of Capt. Bainbridge, being 
about five leagues to the westward of Tripoli, dis- 
cerned a sail, and immediately gave chase. The 
sail which had hoisted Tripolitan colours, continued 
her course near shore, and was pursued by the Phil- 
adelphia for some time. The pursuit, however, was 
given up when it was discovered that there was but 
seven fathoms water, and that the fire of the frigate 
had but little effect, and would not be likely to pre- 
vent the vessel from entering Tripoli. On attempt- 
ing to beat off, the Philadelphia, about four miles 
and an half from the town, ran on a rock not laid 
down in any chart. On sounding, it was discovered 
that the greatest depth of water was astern, and it 
was thereupon determined to back off the frigate ; 
to effect which the most active exertions were made ; 
the sails were laid aback, all the guns thrown over- 
board, excepting a few abaft, which were required 
to defend the ship from the Tripolitan gun boats 
then firing at her ; the water in the hold started — 
the anchors thrown away from the bows, and the 
foremast cut away. But all exertions proved inef- 
fectual ; yet her gallant commander and crew were 
determined to defend her to the last extremity, not- 
withstanding their embarrassed and distressing situa- 
tion, deprived of almost every means of defence, 
against the numerous gun boats by which she was at- 
tacked ; but a large reinforcement coming out of 
Tr.poli, they were reluctantly csmpeilcd to strike, 



34 LIFE OF 

and to surrender themselves into the hands of a bar- 
barous foe. This was about sunset. The Tripoli- 
tans immediately took possession of the frigate, and 
made prisoners of the crew, which, including officers, 
consisted of about three hundred men. Two days 
afterwards, the Tripolitans succeeded in getting the 
frigate off, being favoured by a strong wind blowing 
towards the shore, and towed her into the harbour 
in great triumph. The loss of the Philadelphia un* 
der such circumstances, was apparently an occur- 
rence peculiarly disasterous and mortifying ; yet in 
the sequel it gave rise to one of the most bold and 
hazardous enterprizes of which there is any record 
in the history of human transactions. 

Not long after the capture of the Philadelphia fri- 
gate, Lieut. Stephen Decatur, (now Commodore,) 
who had arrived in the Mediterranean subsequently 
to this event, projected a plan for her re-capture.— 
The enterprise being submitted to Commodore Pre- 
ble, he at first hesitated in giving his authority, con- 
sidering it too imminently hazardous ; but finally as- 
sented to it. The projector of the enterprise having 
obtained the approbation of the commander of the 
squadron, made immediate arrangements for carry- 
ing it into effect. Accordingly, the ketch Intrepid, 
lately captured by him, having a crew of seventy vol- 
unteers, and the brig Syren, sailed from Syracuse, for 
Tripoli, where they arrived after a passage of fifteen 
days. It was near the close of the day when the 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 35 

two vessels arrived off the harbour, and it was deter- 
mined that at ten o'clock in the evening the attempt 
should be made. The arrangement was, to have the 
Intrepid, accompanied by the boats, enter the har- 
bour, and the Syren to aid the boats, and to receive 
the crew of the Intrepid, in case it should be found 
expedient to make a fire ship of that vessel. A change 
of wind, however, having separated the two vessels 
several miles, and Lieutenant Decatur fearing that 
delay might prove fatal to the enterprize, entered the 
harbour alone, about eight o'clock. The Philadel- 
phia, " fallen — but not disgraced," lay within half 
gun shot of the Bashaw's castle, and the principal 
battery ; two Tripolitan cruisers being within cable 
length, upon the starboard quarter ; and within half 
gun shot, on her starboard bow, were a number of 
gun-boats. From the hghtness of the wind, with all 
the exertions they could make, they had advanced 
but three miles in the same number of hours. They 
were hailed from the Philadelphia, when within 
about two hundred yards, and were ordered to an- 
chor, on peril of being fired into, the guns of the 
Philadelphia being mounted and loaded. The reply 
from the Intrepid was that all her anchors were lost ; 
and in the mean time she continued to advance, until 
within fifty yards of the frigate, when the wind dying 
away. Lieutenant Decatur ordered a rope to be fas- 
tened to the fore chains thereof, which being effect- 
ed, the Intrepid was warped along side. Hitherto 



38 l^IPE <>F 

the Tripolitans had been completely deceived as to 
the character and designs of the vessel, and on discov- 
ering that she was an enemy, they were thrown into 
the greatest confusion and disorder. At this critic- 
al moment, the gallant Decatur sprang on board the 
Philadelphia, and was immediately followed by Mid- 
shipman Morris, (now Capt. Morris.) It was a min- 
ute or more, before any others of the crew succeed- 
ed in getting on board the frigate, so that had not the 
Tripolitans been in the greatest consternation, they 
might at this critical conjuncture, have defeated the 
enterprise •, and probably with the loss of the brave 
officer who planned and conducted it. But destiny 
ordered otherwise ; a better fate awaited these 
brave and patriotic Americans. A considerable pro- 
portion of the crew of the Intrepid were soon on 
board the frigate ; which was decisive of the contest. 
The Tripolitans were unable to withstand the des- 
perate attack of the Americans ; they were immedi- 
ately overpowered, and twenty of them killed. As 
soon as it was perceived that the Americans had got 
possession of the frigate, she was immediately fired 
upon from the castle and battery, and the two cor- 
sairs ; and a number of launches being observed to be 
put in motion in the harbour, Lieutenant Decatur 
thought it expedient to remain on hoard the frigate, 
considering that the best situation for defence ; but 
perceiving that the launches remained at a distance, 
it was determined to leave the frigate and set her on 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 37 

tire, which was eflfected with complete success, and 
with entire safety, although the conflagration was so 
rapid, that the Intrepid was imminently exposed ; 
but being aided by a favourable wind, which at this 
moment, almost providentially, sprang up, they suc- 
ceeded in getting out of the harbour. In this bril- 
liant affair the Americans did not sustain the loss of 
a single man, and had only four wounded.* — The 
novelty and boldness of this enterprise, the se- 
crecy and success with which it was executed, and 
the desperate courage which the Americans display- 
ed, filled the Tripohtans with astonishment, and 
gave them a most exalted opinion of the courage and 
skill of American seamen. 

After the destruction of the Philadelphia, Commo- 
dore Preble employed the American squadron during 
the following spring and a part of the summer, in 
cruising, maintaining the blockade of the harbour of 
Tripoli, and in making preparation for an attack up- 
on the town, should circumstances render that meas- 
ure necessary or expedient. His force was consid- 
erably augmented, having put in commission a prize 
vessel, called the Scourge ; and six gun-boats and 
two bomb ships were obtained from the King of Na- 
ples, and he was authorised to take a number of Nea- 
politans into his service to man the gun boats. Af- 
ter this addition, his force consisted of the following 
vessels : the Constitution frigate of 44 guns ; the 

♦Naval History of the United State.*, 
4 



o'ii LIFE or 

brigs Argus, Syren and Scourge, the two former of 
i 8 guns ; the schooners "Vixen, Nautilus and Enter- 
prize ; six Gun Boats, each carrying a 26 brass poun- 
der, and two Bomb-ketches. This force was united 
under the Commodore on the 21st of July, 1804, off 
the harbour of Tripoli. From the unfavourable state 
of the weather, and the adverse course of the wind, 
he was prevented from approaching the town until 
the 28th, when the squadron anchored within two 
and an half miles of the batteries ; but were soon 
oblged to leave this station, the wind having risen 
up, which soon increased to a gale. On the 3d of 
August, the squadron again approached within about 
the same distance of the fortifications. The Com- 
modore observing that several of the Tripohtan boats 
were without the reef of rocks which cover the en- 
trance into the harbour, determined to take advan- 
tage of this circumstance, and to make an immedi- 
ate attack upon the shipping and batteries. He ac- 
cordingly made signals for the different vessels of the 
squadron to come within speaking distance, and 
cj[)mmunicated to the several commanders his orders 
of attack. The gun boats and bomb ketches were 
immediately manned and prepared for action, the 
former being arranged into three divisions, consisting 
of three boats each. The signal for a general attack 
was given at about three o'clock, P. M., which was 
immediately commenced by the bomb ketches throw- 
ing shells into the tow^n. The attack having been 
commenced, it was immediately followed by the 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 39 

most tremendous cannonade from the enemies bat- 
teries and vessels in the harbour, both comprising 
more than two hundred guns. The Bashaw's castle 
and the batteries mounted one hundred and fifteen 
guns, of which fifty-five were pieces of heavy ord- 
nance ; the remainder long eighteen and twelve 
pounders ; and there were nineteen gun boats, each 
carrying a long twenty-four or eighteen pounder in 
the bow, and two howitzers abaft ; two schooners of 
eight guns each, a brig often, and two gallies of four 
each, in the harbour. Besides the ordinary garrisons 
and the crews of the vessels in the harbour, estima- 
ted at three thousand, more than twenty thousand 
Arabs had been collected for the defence of the town. 
The cannonading from the batteries and vessels of 
the enemy was immediately returned by the Ameri- 
can squadron, which soon advanced within gun sho^ 
of the batteries. Captain Stephen Decatur, com- 
manding three gun boats, having made an attack up- 
on nine gun boats of the enemy, forming their eastern 
division, dashed in the midst of them, and a despe- 
rate conflict, with bayonet, spear and sabre, soon en- 
sued. Captain Decatur grappled a Tripolitan boat, 
and boarded her with only fifteen men ; yet so reso- 
lute and desperate was the attack, that in ten min- 
utes, her decks were cleared, and her flag was down. 
hi this affair three Americans were wounded. Cap- 
tain Decatur, at this moment, being informed that 
his brother, Lieutenant James Decatur, command- 



40 LIFE OF 

ing gun boat, No. 1, having engaged and captured a 
boat of the enemy, had been treacherously and mur- 
derously shot by the Tripohtan commander, whilst 
in the act of stepping on board of the captured ves- 
sel, sailed immediately in pursuit of the murderer 
of his brother. He soob discovered him retreating 
within the lines, and succeeded in comming along 
side, and immediately boarded, although he had but 
eleven men with him. A desperate, and for a few 
minutes, doubtful contest ensued. Decatur imme- 
diately attacked the Tripolitan commander, who 
was armed with a spear and cutlass. The Turk 
thrust with his spear, which Decatur successfully 
parried, until he broke his sword close to the hilt, 
when he seized the spear, and immediately closed, 
and after a most violent struggle, both fell, Decatur 
being uppermost. The Tripolitan commander drew 
a dagger from his belt, but was prevented from using 
it, Decatur having seized his arm, and at the same 
time drawing a pistol from his pocket, shot him dead. 
This desperate rencountre between the two com- 
manders, brought together both their crews for their 
defence, and a desperate and bloody conflict com- 
menced around them. So many had fallen, killed 
and wounded, that it w^as with difficulty Decatur 
could extricate himself, when the struggle had ceas- 
ed between him and the Tripolitan commander.—- 
This affair, whether we consider the motive which 
impelled the commanding officer, the boldness of the 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 41 

undertaking, the success with which it was executed, 
the incident of the contest between the two com- 
manders, or the heroic bravery which the Americans 
displayed, is not surpassed in the annals of naval war- 
fare. Decatur in his struggle with the Turk, was 
slightly wounded in his right arm and breast : and 
his men were all wounded but four. The life of 
Decatur was in the most imminent danger, and was 
saved by the interposition of one of his men, although 
at the hazard of his own life ; which is an instance 
of fidelity and attachment on the part of a seaman 
to his commander, that has few examples, and which 
cannot fail to challenge the highest admiration.— 
During the struggle between Decatur and the Turk, 
the former was attacked in the rear, the assailant 
aiming a blow at his head, which must have proved 
fatal, had not this heroic American tar, who was so 
badly wounded himself as to be deprived of both of 
his arms, rushed in between Decatur and the Tripoli- 
tan, and exposed his own head to the falling sabre. 
He received the stroke, which fractured bis skull, 
but happily not so as to be fatal, and he survived to 
receive the thanks and admiration of his command- 
er and companions in the " bloody strife," and a pen- 
sion from his grateful country. — Captain Decatur 
secured the prize ; which, together with the tirst boat 
he had captured, he conducted safely to the Ameri- 
can squadron. 

Another contest between an American boat and 
4^ 



4t 



12 LIFE OF 

one ofthe enemies' occurred, which in some of its cir- 
cumstances was similar to this, in which the comman- 
der and crew of the former, displayed equal courage. 
Lieut. Trippe, with only a midshipman and eleven 
men, boarded a large boat of the enemy, manned 
by thirty-six men, the American boat falHng off be- 
fore any more of the crew could get on board. These 
eleven men were thus placed in a situation where 
there was no alternative but victory or death ; and 
a victory over more than thrice their number. A 
most desperate and unequal conflict ensued, the re- 
sult of which for some time seemed doubtful ; but 
the vast superiority of disciplined valour over barba- 
rian force, soon discovered itself. The Tripolitans 
were overcome, and with great slaughter, fourteen 
being killed, and seven w ounded. All that survived 
were made prisoners. During the action a personal 
contest ensued between Lieutenant Trippe and the 
Tripolitan commander ; the sword of the former 
bending, he closed with his antagonist, and both fell. 
Lieutenant Trippe wrested the Turk's sword from 
his hand, and thrust it through his heart. 

The American squadron, for more than two hours, 
was exposed to the enemy's batteries, from which a 
constant fire was maintained, being within grape shot 
distance. But the damage which it sustained was 
inconsiderable, viewed with reference to its expos- 
ed situation. The Constitution was considerably in- 
jured in her sails and rigging, and her main mast was 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 43 

struck by a thirty-two pound ball. The other ves- 
sels of the squadron sustained some injury in their rig- 
ging, and had several men wounded ; but not a man 
was killed during the whole engagement, excepting 
Lieut. Decatur, already noticed. He was a young 
officer of great promise, and deeply lamented. — 
The enemy sustained a serious injury ; and what, 
perhaps, was of more importance, the operations and 
activity of the squadron, and the determined and des- 
perate bravery which the Americans displayed, made 
a most serious and salutary impression. The Tripo- 
litans were astonished at what they had witnessed, 
and could hardly believe the Americans to be men. 
A number of their gun boats were captured, onboard 
of all of which, were one hundred and three men, of 
whom forty-seven were killed and twenty-six wound- 
ed ; three boats were sunk, with all their men on 
board ; many were killed and wounded on board the 
vessels in the harbour, and on shore ; a number of 
the guns of the batteries were dismounted, and the 
town sustained considerable injury. 

Commodore Preble, on the 5th August, sent twelve 
of the wounded Tripolitans, who had had their 
wounds dressed, and received every attention 
which humanity could dictate, into Tripoli, by a 
French privateer; and a letter, addressed to the min- 
ister of the Bashaw. The representations of the re- 
leased prisoners, contributed to increase the aston- 
ishment with which the Americans were viewed. 



44 LIFE OF 

They informed their sovereign that in battle, the 
Americans were fiercer than lions, and in the treat- 
ment of their prisoners more kind than even mussel- 
men. The Bashaw, being destitute of sentiments of 
humanity himself, could not conceive what had in- 
duced the American commander to send in their 
prisoners, but being informed that he had no other 
motive than that of humanity, he professed to admire 
so noble a principle of action ; and added, that if any 
wounded Americans should fall into his hands, he 
would in like manner restore them. But the sin- 
cerity of this declaration is very questionable, inas- 
much as he refused to release any of the crew of the 
Philadelphia. Two days after, the Commodore re- 
ceived a letter from the French consul, advising him 
that he thought it probable the Bashaw would treat 
upon more reasonable terms ; yet the terms intima- 
ted were not such as the Commodore felt either au- 
thorised or willing to accept, and he accordingly 
made preparations for a second attack upon the town. 
The action commenced at half past two, and in two 
hours, one of the batteries, which mounted seven 
guns, had six of them silenced by our gun boats. — 
During the action, numerous shells were thrown into 
the town from the bomb ketches, which had taken a 
station in a bay west of the city, where they were 
but little exposed, and about five hundred round shot 
were thrown into the town and batteries. One of 
the gun boats taken from the Tripolitans in the first 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 45 

attack, was blown up by a hot shot passing through 
her magazine : of twenty-eight men which she had 
on board, ten were killed and five wounded ; the 
other twelve w^ere saved, having jumped overboard 
the instant the explosion took place, and were taken 
up by another boat. 

On the 1 0th, a aegociation was proposed by the 
Bashaw. He offered to release the American pris- 
oners for five hundred dollars each, amounting in all 
to about one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, to 
put an end to the war, and to renounce tribute, or 
an annuity, as the price of maintaining peace. 
These terms were rejected ; but, from a regard to 
the lives and liberty of the unfortunate captives who, 
in case no accommodation should take place, were 
exposed to the certain loss of the latter, if not of the 
former, he offered eighty thousand dollars as a ran- 
som for all the prisoners, and ten thousand as pres- 
ents. This offer was not accepted by the Bashaw, 
and the negociation ended. — Commodore Preble im- 
mediately made arrangements for another attack up- 
on the town, which commenced on the night of the 
23d of August. It was conducted with the same 
boldness and spirit which characterised all the ope- 
rations of the American squadron. On the 27th, the 
gun boats, aided by several of the small vessels, an- 
noyed the shipping in the harbour, and kept up a 
brisk fire upon the town and batteries, which was 
warmly returned. In the height of the engagement 



46 LIFE OP 

the Constitution fired a broadside at thirteen of the 
enemy's gun boats and gallies which were engaged 
with the American boat?, and sunk one of them, dis- 
abled two, and dispersed the rest. The Commo- 
dore then run within musket shot of the batteries, 
and commenced a Hvely cannonade upon them and 
the town, during which there was fired from the 
Constitution three hundred round shot, besides grape 
and cannister ; and four hundred round shot were 
fired from the gun boats. The Bashaw's castle and 
two of the batteries were silenced ; and considera- 
ble damage was done to the town, many houses hav- 
ing been seriously injured, and several lives lost. A 
thirty-six pound shot penetrated the castle, and en- 
tered the apartment of the prisoners. 

Negociations for peace were immediately renew- 
ed after this attack, by the French consul ; but pro- 
duced nothing satisfactory. The American squadron 
was employed for a few days in repairing the dama- 
ges sustained in the last engagement, and in prepar- 
ing for another attack, which was made on the third 
of September. The result of this attack was similar 
to the last ; several of the enemy's batteries having 
been silenced, and considerable injury done to the 
town. The American squadron, however, was more 
injured than in any of the former attacks, although 
not a man was lost. One of the bomb vessels had 
all her shrouds shot aAvay, and was so severely in- 
jured in her hull that she could scarcely be kept 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 47 

above water; and the Argus received a thirty-two 
pound shot in her hull, but did httle injury, having 
struck a lower cable, which so completely destroyed 
its force that it fell harmless upon the deck. 

For some time Commodore Preble had meditated 
sending a fire ship into the harbour, to attempt to 
burn the flotilla, and injure and terrify the town. 
For this difficult and imminently hazardous under- 
taking. Captain Somers volunteered his services, and 
with the assistance of Lieutenants Wadsworth and 
Israel, fitted out the ketch Intrepid, for the expedi- 
tion ; one hundred barrels of gun-powder and one 
hundred and fifty shells having been placed in the 
hold, and fusees and combustibles applied in such a 
manner as to make the explosion sure, without pre- 
venting a retreat. Every thing being prepared, on 
the evening of the 4th of September, about eight 
o'clock, the fire ship, accompanied by two fast row- 
ing boats, designed to bring oiF the men after the ship 
should be set on fire, stood into the harbour, being 
convoyed by the Argus, Vixen and Nautilus, to with- 
in a short distance from the batteries. Having en- 
tered the inner harbour and approached to near the 
place of destination, the fire ship was boarded by 
two gallies of one hundred men each, being such a 
vast superiority of force as rendered all resistance 
unavailing. Immediately upon this, the explosion 
look place, which produced an effect that would de- 
fy the powers of the boldest imagination to describe. 



48 i^iiE OP 

The scene was awfully sublime. The report was 
most tremendous, and the consternation and confu- 
sion which it occasioned, were augmented by the 
suddenness of it, the time, and other circumstances 
attending it ; being the silent hour of night, when 
" creation sleeps." An awful pause ensued. The 
engines of human destruction, as if satisfied with the 
immense sacrifice of a single moment, ceased. The 
batteries were silenced, and not a gun was fired dur- 
ing the remainder of the night. But the cause of 
explosion is a matter of the greatest importance and 
astonishment. It is supposed that Captain Somers, 
perceiving no alternative but ignominious slavery, or 
death, resolved upon the latter, and with his own 
hands, set fire to the fatal train, which in an in- 
stant, identified his own and his companions' fate 
with that of their enemies, all meeting a common 
death. An act of such desperate courage as this, is 
hardly to be found in the history of human transac- 
tions. This closed the operations of Commodore 
Preble, being suspended in his command, by the ar- 
rival, a few days after, of a reinforcement, consist- 
ing of four frigates, under the command of Commo- 
dore Barron, who was a senior officer. 

When this reinforcement left America, the govern- 
ment was not informed of the active and brilliant op- 
erations of Commodore Preble ; yet a senior offi- 
cer was not sent out from any want of confidence 
in the gallant Preble, but from the difficulty of ob- 



OLIVER U. PERRY. 4S 

taining Captains to command the four frigates who 
were juniors to him. 

After this brief view of his operations, it can hard- 
ly be necessary to add that they were, not only in 
the United States but in Europe, considered as 
highly honourable to himself and his country. — On 
Commodore Barron's taking the command of the 
squadron, Commodore Preble returned to the Uni- 
ted States, where he received the most distinguished 
attention, and numerous testimonialsof the applause 
and approbation of his countrymen. Congress adop- 
ted a resolution, tendering him their thanks, and di- 
recting the President to present him with an em- 
blematical medal. Such were the efforts of our in- 
fant navy, and such the school in which Perry, and 
most of our present naval officers were instructed. 
While all the great powers of Europe were submit^ 
ting to insult and injury, and to pay tribute to the 
states of Barbary, the world beheld with astonish- 
ment, an infant nation, exhibiting so distinguished an 
example of chastisement to these barbarous and fe- 
rocious nations. 

The Americans being determined to compel the 
Bashaw to liberate their countrymen, and agree to 
reasonable terms of accommodation, resolved upon 
prosecuting the war by land as well as by sea.— 
General Eaton, who had been consul at Tunis 
since 1 797, having returned to America in 1 804, dis- 
closed to the government the bold enterprise of at 
5 



50 LIFE OP 

tempting the restoration of the Ex-Bashaw of Tri- 
poh, (who had been deprired of the government by 
his brother,) and having obtained the necessary au- 
thority, he embarked, in July the same year, in the 
brig Argus, for the Mediterranean. He arrived at 
Alexandria on the 26th November, and ascertaining 
that the Ex-Bashaw was in upper Egypt with the 
Mamelukes, who were then at war with the Turkish 
government, he proceeded from thence to Grand Cai- 
ro, where he arrived on the 8th of December. — 
On the 8th of January, General Eaton received an 
answer from the Ex-Bashaw, to the letter he had ad- 
dressed to him, upon the subject of his enterprise ; 
and immediately repaired, accompanied by Lieut. 
Blake, Mr. Mann, and twenty-three armed men, to 
the place appointed by him for an interview, being 
about 1 90 miles from the sea-coast. At the distance, 
however, of about 70 miles, they were stopped by a 
detachment of Turkish troops ^ the commander ob- 
stinately refusing to permit the General and his par- 
ty to proceed. But he finally consented to send for 
the Ex-Bashaw, who in a short time arrived with his 
followers. The result of this interview was, that 
General Eaton returned to Alexandria, whither he 
arrived about the middle of February ; and from a 
difficulty of the Ex-Bashaw's embarking at that place, 
it was decided to march by land through the desert, 
to Derne, which place they designed to attack. Ac- 
cordingly, having collected four or five hundred 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 51 

men, the principal part of which were Arabs, there 
being less than one hundred christians, on the 6th of 
March, General Eaton and the Ex-Bashaw commen- 
ced their march. Their provisions and baggage 
were carried bj Camels, of which they had about 
one hundred. The march through the desert was 
one peculiarly difficult and distressing. On the 16th 
they arrived at Bomba ; and on the 21st of April, 
General Eaton, with his singular army, was in the 
neighbourhood of the city of Derne. He ascertain- 
ed that an army which had been sent by the reign- 
ing Bashaw from Tripoli, to oppose him, was within 
fourteen hours march. Perceiving that he had no 
time to lose, on the following day he demanded of 
the Governor of Derne, the surrender of the 
place ; and received the following answer, which is 
characteristic of the sense of accountability felt by 
Turkish officers : " my head or yours." The next 
day the place was attacked, and surrendered after a 
warm contest of two or three hours. The loss of 
the assailants was considerable, one third of the 
christians being either killed or wounded. Having 
obtained possession of the city, General Eaton com- 
menced fortifying it, and otherwise making prepara- 
tions to meet the Tripolitan army, which was hourly 
expected. It arrived, and commenced an attack 
upon the town on the 18th ; and after a severe en- 
gagement of four hours, the assailants gave way, and 
retreated to their camp. — No further operations of 



dS LIFE or 

any importance took place until tli(e 28th, when Gen- 
«ral Eaton, with about forty men, Americans and 
Greeks, made a sortie from the town, and fell upon a 
party of the enemy, consisting of about one hundred 
men, returning from a depredatory excursion, who 
made little resistance, and were pursued to within a 
short distance of their camp. In this affair the Amer- 
icans sustained no loss, and returned safely to their 
fortifications, the enemy not making any attempt to 
intercept them. On the 10th a second attack was 
made upon the town ; and although the enemy dis- 
played more obstinacy and perseverance than in the 
first, the result was equally disastrous. The ac- 
tion continued, with the greatest warmth, for more 
than four hours, when the enemy was thrown into 
disorder, and obliged to retreat. The next day the 
Constellation appeared in the harbour ; and on her 
being discovered by the Tripolitans they were 
thrown into the greatest confusion and dismay • 
they broke up their camp, and leaving most of their 
heavy baggage behind, sought safety in flight. The 
operations and views of General Eaton were in a 
short time after this, arrested by the conclusion of a 
treaty of peace, and accommodation of differences, 
between the United States and the Regency of Tri- 
poli. — It has generally been considered that this 
treaty was premature, as there was every reason to 
believe that if General Eaton had been left to per- 
siie the operations he had in contemplation, he 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 53 

would have compelled the Bashaw to have agreed 
to terms altogether more favorable, if not forced him 
to unconditional submission. — Here ended the Tri- 
politan war — a war characterised by many impor- 
tant incidents, and which disclosed, on the part of 
the Americans, as bold a spirit of enterprise, as many 
heroic achievements, and instances of as determined 
and desperate personal bravery, as are to be found 
in the like compass of events in the records of hu= 
man wars. 



54 LIFE OF 



CHAPTER III. 

The embarrassment of our commerce — the restrictive measures-^ 
employmeyit nf the navy in consequence thereof— Perry com' 
mands a JiotUla of gtin boats — is transfered to the Revenge- 
assists the Diana in distress— loss of the Revenge — declaration 
qfivar — state of the navy at that time — Perry appointed to 
command a flotilla of gun boats—is transfered to the Lakes 
— capture of Caledonia and Detroit— capture of York — Perry 
ordered to superintend the huilding a feet at Erie— haves 
there to asssist in the attack upon Fort George — vessels 
built at Erie got over the bar — Perry sails with the squadron^ 
and retires to Put-in-Bay — preceding events of the nar upon 
the northwestern frontier — General Hull's army — his ivasion 
of Canada — the employment of the Indians by the British— 
HulVs retreat and capitulation — General Harrison's cam' 
paign — defeat of General ffinchester—Fort Meigs — Col. Dud' 
ley's defeat — gallant defence of Fort Stephenson, 

After the close of the TripoHtan war, in the 
year 1805, a period of several years ensued, in which 
the annals of our navy occupy but little space, and 
comprise no events of much importance, with the 
exception of the unfortunate outrage committed upon 
the Chesapeake frigate, in 1807, which produced a 
sensation that electrified the whole continent. The 
United States being at peace during this period, its 
marine force could not, of course, be employed in 
any belhgerant enterprizes, nor for the protection of 



OLIVER H. PERRF. 55 

the commerce of the country. Nothing, however, 
but the nominal existence of peace with the two 
great beUigerants of Europe, could have prevented 
its having been used for the latter object ; for, from 
the conclusion of the Tripolitan war, to the com- 
mencement of the war with Great-Britain, in 1812, 
a period of seven years, the commerce of the Uni- 
ted States was constantly subjected to the most se- 
rious embarrassments, and the most unwarrantable 
seizures and condemnations from Great-Britain, and 
a part of this period from France. In the summer 
of 1805, Great-Britain adopted, (and the command- 
ers of her vessels were instructed accordingly,) the 
rule of war of 1756, which regards all trade carried 
on by a neutral, with the colonies of a belligerant, 
during war, which was not permitted by the bellige- 
rant nation during peace, as illegal. Under this 
rule, of which no previous notice had been given, 
the commerce of the United States was arrested — 
vessels and property, to an immense amount, were 
seized, carried into British ports and condemned ; 
nothwithstanding their courts of admiralty, had pre- 
viously, in the most explicit manner, disallowed this 
rule, and thereby legalized and sanctioned this de- 
scription of commerce. This unjust and hostile 
conduct on the part of Great-Britain, produced a 
sentiment of indignation throughout the United 
States, particularly with the mercantile part of the 
community. Meetings were holden in most of out 



56 



LIFE OF 



commercial towns, and memorials presented to Con- 
gress, urging that body to adopt such energetic and 
decisive measures as would be most likely to obtain 
redress. In the Senate of the United States, a Res- 
olution was adopted, declaring the seizure and con- 
demnation of American vessels under the aforesaid 
rule, by Great-Britain, as an unprovoked ag2!;ression 
upon the property of the citizens of the United 
States, and a violation of our neutral rights. A law 
was also adopted, prohibiting the importation from 
Great-Britain into the United States, of certain im- 
portant articles, the manufactures of that country. 
This act, v.hich was passed on the 18th of April, 
1806, was not to go into operation until the 15th of 
November following ; it not being intended as a mea- 
sure of hostility, but to aid negociation. These 
measures, evincive alike of our sense of aggression 
and of justice, produced, however, no favourable ef- 
fect upon the conduct of Great-Britain. Instead of 
being induced, by a respect for the sensibility which 
we manifested to our own wrongs, our love of jus- 
tice, and a disposition to prevent, if possible, an in- 
terruption of existing amicable relations, to abandon 
her unjust pretensions, she advanced others equally 
novel and unjust, thereby adding injury to injury. In 
May, 1SJ6, under the administration of the celebra- 
ted Charles James Fox, she declared the coast of 
France, Holland and Germany, from Brest to the 
Elbe, an extent of about 700 miUs, in a state of 
blockade. 



OLIVER H. PERRY J7 

In November follewing, the decree of Berlin was 
adopted by the Emperor of France, in retaliation 
upon Great-Britain for this novel and unjustifiable 
measure. This decree was followed by the British 
Orders in Council, of November 11th, 1807; and 
those by the Imperial Decree, of December ITth, 
1807. From these extraordinary measures of the 
two great belligerant powers, all of which violated 
the most established rights of neutrals, the commerce 
of the United States, then the only neutral nation, 
with the exception of Sweden, was exposed to have 
been almost entirely sacrificed. Under this unex- 
ampled and extraordinary state of the commercial 
world, the law establishing an embargo, was passed 
on the 23d December, 1 807, as the only means cal- 
culated to save our commerce from this legalized 
system of depredation and piracy ; which must have 
swept it from the ocean, as with the besom of de- 
struction. This measure, although a very necessary 
and wise one at the time it was adopted, whatever 
may be thought of the policy of continuing it as long 
as was done, was one, however, extremely difficult 
to enforce, and which required the application of all 
the naval means within the controul of the govern- 
ment. 

The spirit of commercial enterprise and cupidity, 
for which our citizens are distinguished, could not 
brook so entire a restraint. And the difficulties 
which from this and other causes, would be likely at 



LIFE OP 



all periods to attend the enforcement of a measure 
of this description, were at this time greatly increas- 
ed from the political state of the country ; this meas- 
ure experiencing a decided and systematic opposition 
from one of the two great political parties by which 
the United States was then unhappily divided. Un- 
der these circumstances it required, on the part of 
the government, the utmost vigilance, and the em- 
ployment of its whole naval means to enforce this 
measure. With reference to this object, an impor- 
tant service was assigned to Lieutenant Perry. — • 
Soon after the embargo was adopted in 1808, he was 
appointed to the command of a flotilla of seventeen 
gun boats, on the Newport station ; in which service 
he continued until 1810, when he was appointed to 
the command of the United States' schooner Re- 
venge, attached to the squadron of Commodore Ro- 
gers, then laying at New-London. During a cruise of 
the Revenge the same year, he rendered very signal 
services to the ship Diana, of Wiscasset, being in 
distress, off the coast of Georgia. The prompt and 
effectual assistance which he afforded this vessel, 
was duly appreciated by her commander and own- 
ers, from whom Perry received a letter of approba- 
tion and thanks, expresed in the most flattering terms, 
and requesting that the same might be forwarded 
with his dispatches to the Secretary of the Navy. — 
In January, 1811, the Revenge, whilst returning 
from Newport to New-London, under the command 



OLIVER H. PEHRY. 59 

of Lieutenant Perry, was unfortunately lost near the 
mouth of the Pawcatuck river, in Rhode-Island, hav- 
ing struck upon a reef of rocks off Watch-Hill, and 
in a few hours went to pieces. This accident was 
occasioned by a fog, which was so thick as to envel- 
ope all on board the Revenge in almost total dark- 
ness, and was accompanied with a heavy swell. 
There was a pilot on board, but being unable to dis- 
cover their situation, it was impossible to do any 
thing for the safety of the vessel. But the presence 
of mind, and judicious and successful exertions of 
Lieutenant Perry, after the disaster, in saving the 
men and the property from the wreck, did him great 
credit and honour. The sails, rigging, the principal 
part of the cannon, and almost every article of any 
value, were saved. At Perry's own request a 
Court of enquiry was instituted, to examine into his 
conduct in this occurrence ; which, after a full in- 
vestigation of all the facts, pronounced his conduct 
to be not only free from censure, but highly merito- 
rious. His judgment and activity in the means em- 
ployed to save the crew and property, and his cool 
intrepidity on the occasion, were a subject of the 
highest admiration, and contributed in no small de^ 
gree, to raise the estimation in which he was held 
by the government. 

The embargo so far as it was regarded as a meas- 
ure of coercion, from the difficulty of its enforcement 
&r other causes, not having produced the expected ef 



60 LIFE OF 

fects, and from the violent opposition which it expe- 
rienced, was revoked in March, 1809, and followed 
by the non-intercourse law ; a measure which pro- 
duced little or no change in the application and em- 
ployment of the naval force of the United States. — 
The operations of this law were subsequently sus- 
pended as it respected France, by the proclamation 
of the President, pursuant to a provision of the law ; 
but it continued in force against Great-Britain. 

These several measures, evincing at the same time 
on the part of the United States, a determination 
not to submit to a violation of their rights, a spir- 
it of moderation and forbearance, and a disposition 
lo prevent, if possible, an entire interruption of the 
amicable relations which were still, at least nomi- 
nally, maintained between the two countries, entire- 
ly failing of inducing Great-Britain, either from a 
sense of justice, respect for her own character, or 
the inconveniences to which they subjected her, to 
cease her aggressions, and respect the commercial 
rights of the United States, and after all hopes of ob- 
taining this object by negociation, had long since ex- 
pired ; as the last resort of injured nations, the Con- 
gress of the United States, on the 1 8th of June, 1812, 
declared war against the United Kingdom of Great- 
Britain and Ireland. 

This measure, important in every point of view, 
was perhaps the most so, as it respected the navy of 
the United States. Bv the enemy, (if any reliance 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 61 

is to be placed upon their public journals,) and many 
of our own citizens, it was regarded as the presage 
of its annihilation ; and it was believed in the course 
of the war, the American flag would be swept from 
the ocean. 

During the rupture with France, and subsequent- 
ly, in the war with Tripoli, of which a succinct ac- 
count has been given in this work, our navy had been 
distinguished by many gallant and heroic exploits, 
and acquired much reputation ; but very few, if any 
of the officers or seamen belonging to it at this peri- 
od, had ever encountered the self-styled " lords of 
THE OCEAN," who, from their naval superiority over 
all the powers of Europe, the result of numerous 
wars, and many splendid victories, during a period of 
more than a century, had adopted the principle, that 

•♦ The wind and seas are Britain's wide domain. 
And not a sail but by permission spreads." 

At the commencement of the war, the navy of 
the United States, according to the official report of 
the Secretary of the navy, made a few months pre- 
ceding, consisted of the following vessels : the Con- 
stitution frigate of 44 guns ; President 44, cost 
^220,910 ;* United States 44 ; Congress 36 ; Essex 
32, cost gl39,362 ; ships John Adams, 20, cost 

*The e«vtimated expence of building and equipping for actu- 
al service, of vessels of war, of (he larger size ; ships of the line 
and the larger class of frigate^ is 4,500 dollars per gun. Those 
ofsmaller rates cost less per gun. 



b^ LIFE OF 

gl 13,500 ; Wasp 16 ; Hornet 12 ; brigs Argus, 16 j 
Nautilus 16; Vixen 14; Enterprise 14; Syren 16; 
Viper 10; Oneida, (on Lake Ontario,) 16. The 
foregoing were in actual service. — The following 
were laid up in ordinary : Chesapeake 36 guns, 
original cost g220,677 ; Constellation 36, cost 
314,21 2 ;* the New- York 36, original cost, gl 59,639 ; 
Adams 32, cost g76,622 ; Boston 32, cost gl 19,570. 
Some of these, particularly the New- York and the 
Boston, were in such a decayed condition as to ren- 
der it doubtful whether they were worth repairing, 
and it is believed the two last named were not re- 
paired. In addition to the aforesaid vessels of war- 
the United States had 165 Gun Boats; of which 
65 were in commission, 93 in ordinary, and 7 
under repairs. 

That, in a contest between a nation possessing so 
inconsiderable a marine as this, and one which claim- 
ed the dominion of the seas, and boasted of its thou- 
sand ships of war, the former had every thing to fear 
and nothing to expect, as to naval enterprise and 
operations, would have been an opinion very natural 
and apparently, very just. The result, however, 
was otherwise. The enterprise, activity, skill, brave- 
ry and success of the infant navy of the United States, 

*The Constellation, although mounting bnt 36 guns, cost near- 
ly 100,000 dollars noore than the President of 44. This wai 
owing to the fornaer having been built when we had but little 
experience on the BMbject of hnilding and equipping vessels of 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 63 

was without any example, and the naval events of 
the war, without scarcely an exception, were not 
only highly creditable to the skill and courage of 
American seamen, but reflected the greatest honour 
upon the national character. Although all our na- 
val officers, who had an opportunity of " meeting 
the enemy," acquitted themselves with great credit, 
and sustained the honour of the American flag ; yet 
no one contributed so much to the honour and glory 
of the war, as the subject of this work — the gallant 
and lamented Perry. 

The first service in which Perry was employed, af- 
ter the commencement of the war, was that of the 
command of a flotilla of gun boats, stationed at New- 
port. He continued in this service for several 
months, in the summer and autumn of 1 8 1 2 ; but be- 
ing desirous of a more active situation, and one 
which might be likely to afford more opportunities 
for a display of his skill and courage, and to acquire 
honourable fame — the only object of private ambi- 
tion, which is consistent with the character of a he- 
ro, he solicited and obtained permission to join our 
naval forces on the Lakes, under the command of 
Commodore Chauncey. Accordingly, he repaired 
to Sackett's Harbour, on Lake Ontario, where he 
joined Commodore Chauncey. 

At an early period after the commencement of the 
war, the government perceived the importance of 
securing the command of the Western Lakes ; and 



to i LIFE OF 

in October, 1812, Commodore Chauncey, who had 
been designated for that service, proceeded with 
about 700 seamen, and about 150 marines, to Lake 
Ontario. A large number of ship builders and car- 
penters, had previously gone on, and the greatest 
activity was displayed in building and fitting out a 
naval force, which might give us the dominion of 
Lake Ontario. The season, however, being far ad- 
vanced, no naval operations of any importance took 
place on that Lake, this year. On Lake Erie, the 
British, after the unfortunate surrender of General 
Hull, had undisputed command, the American brig 
Adams, afterwards called the Detroit, having fallen 
into their hands. On the 7th of October subse- 
quently to this event, the British brigs Detroit and 
Caledonia, the former manned by fifty-six men, and 
having thirty American prisoners on board, and the 
latter having a crew of twelve men, with ten prison- 
ers on board, came down the Lake and anchored 
under the protection of Fort Erie. This being ob- 
served by Lieut. Elliot, who was then at Buffalo, 
fitting out some vessels which he had purchased for 
the public service upon Lake Erie, he determined 
to attack, and if possible, get possession of them. 

Lieut. Elliot, having collected a force of about 
one hundred men, more than half of which were 
sailors, who had arrived the same day, and were fa= 
tigued with a march of more than five hundred miles. 
liad them, about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, station- 



OLIVER H. PERRY, 6t} 

ed in two boats, which he had prepared for this en- 
terprise. The boats under the command of Lieu- 
tenant ElHot, put off from the mouth of Buffalo 
Creek at one o'clock the moring following, and in 
about two hours were along side of the British ves- 
sels, which were immediately boarded and captured. 
In ten minutes, Lieutenant Elliot had all the prison- 
ers secured, and the vessels under way. But unfor- 
tunately the wind not being sufficiently strong to en- 
able them to ascend the rapid current into the Lake, 
they were obliged to run down the river, passing the 
enemy's forts, whereby they were exposed to a se- 
vere fire from a number of pieces of heavy ordnance, 
and several pieces of flying artillery ; and were com- 
pelled to anchor within four hundred yards of two of 
their batteries. Having secured the Caledonia in 
as safe a position as circumstances would allow, un- 
der one of our batteries, at Black Rock, the fire of 
the enemy was returned from the Detroit, and con- 
tinued as long as circumstances and their ammunition 
would admit. Being unable to withstand the ene- 
my's fire, Lieutenant Elliot, determined to drift 
down the river, out of the reach of the batteries, 
and to make a stand against their flying artillery. 
This was attempted, but having been abandoned by 
their pilot, the Detroit was run ashore on Squaw 
Island. Upon this the boarding boats were got rea- 
dy, and the prisoners sent ashore. A few minutes 
after, a boat with forty men was discovered from the 



66 



LIFE OF 



British side making for the brig. They succeeded 
in getting an board, but were soon compelled to 
abandon her, with the loss of a great proportion of 
their number. The Detroit was then abandoned, 
and afterwards burnt by the Americans, the princi- 
pal part of her stores and guns having been saved. 

During the winters of 1812 — 13, great exertions 
were made at Sackett's Harbour to build and tit out 
a naval force which might ensure the command of 
Lake Ontario the ensuing season ; the importance 
of which, as to the security of that frontier, and the 
operations of the Americans, was most apparent. — 
The British having on the 22d February, crossed the 
river and succeeded in capturing Ogdensburgh, con- 
siderable anxiety was felt for the safety of Sackett's 
Harbour, and the American shipping and naval stores 
at that place. Measures were immediately adopted 
for its security ; but the enemy did not attempt this 
enterprise, and soon after re-crossed the river. — 
Eearly in the spring arrangements were made by 
General Dearborn, who had the command of the 
American army, for active operations, and the inva- 
sion of Canada. 

On the 19th of April, being soon after the ice had 
disappeared, the Growler sailed from Sackett's Har- 
bour, to reconnoiter the Lake ; which appearing to 
be clear, arrangements were immediately made for 
embarking the troops, which however did not take 
place until the 23d 5 and in consequence of the un- 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 67 

favourable state of the weather, the fleet did not sail 
until two days after. The number of troops which 
embarked was about 1700, under the command of 
General Dearborn. — On the morning of the 27th 
the fleet, with the boats containing the troops, arri- 
ved off York, the capital of Upper Canada, where 
the boats left the fleet, and took a position to the 
south and west of the principal fort of the enemy, 
with a view to the debarkation of the troops, which 
immediately commenced, and was completed about 
10 o'clock in the forenoon. The boats having fal- 
len to the leward before the landing was effected, 
which in some measure prevented the debarkation 
being covered by the fleet, the troops were exposed 
to a severe fire from the enemy's forces posted in a 
thick wood, near the place of landing. The rifle- 
men, commanded by Major Forsyth, landed first, and 
were exposed to a heavy fire from the whole of the 
enemy's forces, consisting of about 700 regulars and 
militia, and 100 Indians, commanded by General 
SheafFe, which had been concentrated to oppose their 
landing. A warm and severe contest was maintain- 
ed for some time, under circumstances peculiarly dis- 
advantageous to the Americans, who displayed the 
greatest coolness and intrepidity. Seven or eight 
hundred of the infantry, under the command of Gen- 
eral Pike, having succeeded in effecting a landing, 
and the remainder of the troops approaching the 
shore, the enemy gave way, and retreated to their 



68 LIFE OF 

fortifications, leaving a number of their killed and 
wounded upon the field. It was intended to make a 
simultaneous attack upon the fortifications, with the 
land and naval forces. Accordingly, the schooners, 
as soon as the troops were landed, took a position 
near the forts. The troops having been formed by 
General Pike, immediately advanced towards the 
batteries, which opened a heavy fire upon them ; 
which was returned by the schooners, whose position 
at this time was within about 600 yards of the prin- 
cipal fort.* The determined and intrepid manner in 
which the troops were led on by the brave General 
Pike, overcome all opposition. Two redoubts were 
immediately carried, and they were approaching to 
the principal work, when a dreadful explosion took 
place, by which many of the Americans were killed 
and wounded ; and among the number their com- 
manding General — the brave and gallant Pike, an 
accomplished otiicer, and a zealous patriot. He 
fell in the moment of victory, the result of his own 
counsels and valour. He was endeared to the sol- 
dier, and respected by the citizen. His name will 
be as immortal in the annals of his country as is the 
event with which his fall was identified. 

This explosion was the result of design, the ene- 
my having previously laid a train for the purpose of 
blowing up their magazine, in case they should be 
obliged to abandon their works. — General Dearborn 
being informed of the fall of Pike, immediately land 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 69 

•edand took the command of the troops. After the 
explosion of the magazine, the enemy, having pre- 
viously set fire to their naval stores, and a ship on 
the stocks, retreated with the greatest precipitation, 
excepting the militia, which were surrendered to the 
captors, with the town. The number surrendered 
was about three hundred. Articles of capitulation 
having been entered into with the commanding officer 
of the militia. General Sheaffe having fled with the 
regulars, before two o'clock in the afternoon the 
American flag was waving in the capital of Upper 
Canada. 

The loss of the Americans in landing, and the at- 
tack upon the town, was 52 killed, and 264 wound- 
ed, of which 38 of the former, and 232 of the latter 
were by the explosion. — The British in their official 
account, acknowledged a loss of 62 killed, 34 woun- 
ded, 43 wx)unded and prisoners, and 17 prisoners and 
missing. — This estimate of their loss, however, must 
have been confined to the regulars, as nearly 300 
militia were surrendered as prisoners. — The rest of 
the day was employed in burying the dead. Such 
of the military stores as could not be brought away, 
were destroyed, and likewise the barracks and pub- 
lic buildings, it being determined to evacuate the 
place, which was done by the first of May, the mili- 
lia prisoners having been paroled, and the troops 
embarked ; but the fleet owing to contrary winds, 
did not sail until the 8th day ; on the afternoon of 
which, they arrived at Four Mile Creek, below fort 



70 LIFE OF 

Niagara, where the troops were disembarked, and 
the public property landed. On the 9th, two Schoon- 
ers, with one hundred men, sailed for the head of 
the Lake, to seize a quantity of public stores ; which 
they succeeded in doing, and brought them away, 
although the property was guarded by about 80 reg- 
ulars, which were repulsed, and the public buildings 
burnt. The schooners having effected their object, 
returned to fort Niagara. 

On the 10th, Commodore Chauncey sailed for 
Sackett's harbour, where he arrived on the 13th. — ■ 
Having received 350 troops on board, he sailed for 
fort Niagara, and arrived on the 25th, and landed 
the troops. General Dearborn immediately held a 
council of officers, to make the necessary arrange- 
ments for crossing to the British side •, and the fol- 
lowing day, Chauncey reconnoitered the position for 
landing the troops ; and having at night sounded near 
the shore, he placed buoys to designate the stations 
for the small vessels. All the heavy artillery, and 
as many of the troops as could be accommodated, 
were taken on board of the Madison, Oneida and La- 
dy of the Lake ; the rest of the troops were embark- 
ed on board of the boats. — On the 27th, at three in 
the morning, the fleet sailed, and the boats followed 
agreeably to directions. The schooners having ta- 
ken judicious positions for that purpose, opened a 
fire upon the enemy's batteries, which in ten minutes 
were silenced and abandoned. Their situation also 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 71 

enabled them to cover the landing of the troops, 
which was effected near one of the forts which had 
been silenced at Two Mile Creek. The enemy were 
not discovered at the landing of the troops, being con- 
cealed in a ravine near the spot; but thej immedi- 
ately advanced to the edge of the bank in great force, 
and with intention to cliarge ; but the tremendous 
and well directed fire from the schooners which was 
opened upon them, compelled them to retire. The 
troops which were immediately formed ascended the 
bank and attacked the British, who were routed and 
iled in every direction, being still exposed to a de- 
structive fire of grape and canister from the schoon- 
ers. The enemy retreated to Fort George, and hav- 
ing set fire to their magazines, immediately left it 
and proceeded towards Queenstown. They were pur- 
sued forsome distance by the light troops ; but the main 
body having been under arms from one in the morn- 
ing, were too much overcome with fatigue to join 
in the pursuit. The troops returned from the pur- 
suit about 12 o'clock to fort George, of which the 
Americans then had quiet possession. 

The total loss of the Americans on this occasion, 
was 39 killed, and 111 wounded : that of the British 
was 108 killed, 163 wounded, and 278 wounded and 
prisoners, exclusive of militia prisoners, of which 
Gen. Dearnborn paroled about 500. The next day, 
Major Gen. Lewis, with a considerable part of the 
troops, marched by the way of Queenstown in pursuit 



^2 LIFE OF 

of the enemy, who made a stand at the Beaver Dam, 
where they had a depot of provisions and military 
stores, were reinforced by 300 regulars from Kings- 
ton, and were collecting the militia ; from which cir- 
cumstances, and the strength of the position, it was 
supposed that they might resolve to await the arri- 
val of the American forces, and risk an action. They^ 
however, determined otherwise. — Having been join- 
ed by the troops of Fort Erie, who had blown up their 
magazine previously to their evacuating the fort, 
they broke up their camp at Beaver Dam, and re- 
treated along the mountains towards the head of Lake 
Ontario. General Lewis ascertaining that the Brit- 
ish had retreated, returned with his troops to Fort 
George. Fort Erie was taken possession of the same 
evening that it was evacuated, by a party of Ameri- 
cans from the opposite shore. 

In March 1813, Perry was appointed Master Com- 
mandant ; and about the same time, he was designa- 
ted to superintend the building and fitting out of a 
naval force upon Lake Erie, and to command upon 
that Lake. He arrived from Sackett's Harbour at 
the port of Erie, near the close of the month of March. 
Being informed that an attack was to be made upon 
Fort George, he proceeded from Erie on the 25th of 
April, two days previous to the attack, and joined 
Commodore Chauncey at Niagara. Having volun- 
teered his services, he accompanied the fleet on the 
27thj when the attack was made ; and from his ac- 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 73 

tivity, bravery, and skill, rendered great assistance 
in the disembarkation of the troops ; and was distin- 
guished, throughout the whole operations, for his 
active exertions and cool intrepidity. He was pres- 
ent at every point where he could be useful, and 
often exposed to showers of musketry ; but fortu- 
nately escaped uninjured, being reserved for a higher 
destiny. 

The next day, the 28th, he was dispatched by 
Commodore Chauncey, with fifty-five seamen, to 
Black Rock, to take charge of five vessels at that 
place, and proceed with them to the port of Erie, 
and to prepare and have the whole squadron on that 
lake, ready for service as soon as possible. These 
vessels had been prepared for service by Mr. Eck- 
ford after the capture of York — an instance of extra- 
ordinary dispatch. — Two hundred soldiers had been 
offered by General Dearborn, to he put on board of 
these vessels at Black Rock, to assist in protecting 
them on their passage to Erie. 

Accordingly, Perry, early in June, proceeded with 
these vessels to Erie, and arrived safely, having elu- 
ded the vigilance of the Queen Charlotte and Lady 
Prevost, which were cruising off Long Point to in- 
tercept him. He passed them in the night, unper- 
ceived. The Niagara and Lawrence, which had 
been built at Erie, under the superintendence of Per- 
ry, were launched in the month of May, and great 
exertions were made to complete their equipment, 
7 



74 LITE OF 

and fit them for service. — The Queen Charlotte, and 
three other vessels of the enemy, came down the 
Lake the 26th of May, but after the capture of Fort 
George and its dependencies, they returned and pro- 
ceeded up the Lake. On the 22d July, Commodore 
Chauncey's squadron arrived at the head of Lake 
Ontario, bringing 1 70 seamen for Perry's fleet, fitting 
out at Erie, which arrived there soon afterwards. 

On the 20th, 21st, and 22d of the same month, the 
enemy's vessels appeared off the harbour of Erie, 
and indicated a design to attack the place, their ob- 
ject undoubtedly being to destroy the vessels which 
were fitting out there. On the 22d, two of the 
American gun boats went out and directed a few shot 
at them, but their distance was too great to admit of 
their having any effect. No alarm, however, was 
felt for the safety of the place or the shipping, as the 
force there was considered as sufficient to repel any 
attack which the enemy might make. 

The vessels at Erie, consisting of the Lawrence, 
Niagara, Caledonia, Ariel, Scorpion, Somers, Ti- 
gress and Porcupine, were completely equipped and 
fitted for service by the 4th of August, when Perry 
succeeded in getting them over the bar at the en- 
trance of the harbour. This was an undertaking of 
no small difficulty, there being at the bar but six feet 
of water ; the brigs Lawrence and Niagara drew 
nine, and the British squadron appeared off the har- 
bour to prevent o'lrs from 2;oin:^ out. But difficul- 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 75 

lies and dangers are no obstacles to the brave and 
ingenious, who never want expedients or resolution* 
when occasion requires them. A mind fertile in re- 
sources, is never at loss for ways and means. To 
get the Lawrence and Niagara over the bar, the fol- 
lowing ingenious means were employed : two large 
scows, of fifty feet long, ten feet wide, and eight feet 
deep, having been prepared for the purpose, were 
filled with water and floated along upon each side 
of one of the vessels, parallel therewith, which were 
then secured by large pieces of timber extended 
from the port holes of the vessel across the scows ; 
the space between the timbers and boats were se- 
cured by other pieces, properly arranged ; the wa- 
ter was then bailed from the scows, which gave them 
an astonishing buoyant and lifting power. The two 
brigs were thus conveyed across the bar, before the 
enemy were apprised of what was transacting, or had 
taken any steps to oppose it. One obstacle had been 
overcome, but there were still difficulties and wants 
which must be obviated and supplied, before they 
could be prepared to seek the enemy. There were 
not at this time more than half the number of sailors 
that were required to man the fleet. This deticiency 
however, was in some measure supplied by the Penn- 
sylvania militia, a number of whom volun- 
teered their services on the occasion. Perry made 
a short cruise off Long Point, more, as was suppo- 
sed, for exercising his men, many of whom were 



76 LIFE OF 

wholly unexperienced, than for seeking the ene- 
my. He returned to Erie, where he remained un- 
til the last of August, when he sailed with the squad- 
ron, to co-operate with General Harrison in the re- 
duction of Maiden. He anchored the fleet off the 
mouth of Sandusky river, where he had an interview 
with General Harrison, from whom he received 
about seventy volunteers, principally Kentuckians, 
who served in the capacity of marines, on board the 
squadron. The Ohio, commanded by Captain Dob- 
bin, having been dispatched to Erie after provisions, 
and the Amelia having been left there for th-e want 
of men to man her, the fleet at this time consisted of 
Bine sail, mounting in all fifty-four guns, with which 
Commodore Perry appeared before Maiden, recon- 
noitered the British, and offered them battle, which 
they did not choose to accept ; although their fleet 
consisting of six sail, mounted sixty-six guns. Being 
unable to draw the enemy out, and unwilling to en- 
gage them while under the protection of the guns of 
the fort. Commodore Perry retired with the fleet to 
Put-in-Bay, which is about thirty-four miles from 
Maiden. 

Here, we me must for the present, leave the hero 
of Erie, and before we follow him to the scene of 
his glory, the splendid victory of the 10th of Septem- 
ber, which has identified his name with that of the 
Lake upon which it was achieved, we must return to 
the first events of the war upon this frontier, and 



OLIVER H. PERRY T7 

give a succinct account of its operations, down to 
the period at which we have left the Commodore. — 
As the naval victory upon Lake Erie, led to the cap- 
ture of Proctor's army, and the successful termina- 
tion of the war upon that frontier, its preceding op- 
erations cannot, with propriety, be separated from 
that event. 

The ultimate object of any measure, is the most 
important circumstance with respect to it ; and what- 
ever has a direct and conspicuous influence upon this 
object, not only claims in itself a distinguished no- 
tice, but in some measure renders all other opera- 
tions and means, connected therewith and tending 
to the same end, appurtenants to it. Upon these 
principles, the history of the war upon the frontier 
of Lake Erie, belongs to that of the naval operations 
?>f Commodore Perry upon that Lake ; and as the 
latter form a prominent part of the personal histo- 
ry of Perry, the former must accompany it also.— • 
When the private history of an individual has become 
identified with the public annals of his country, he 
has attained a niclie in the temple of fime, which will 
secure to his memory a just immortality. 

At the time war was declared, General Hull, who 
was then Governor of the Territory of Michigan, was 
in the north-western part of the state of Ohio, on his 
march to Detroit. He had at that time under his 
command, about 2000 men, consisting of the 4th 
regiment of United States' infantry, and a detach- 
7* 



78 LIFE OP 

ment of 1200 Ohio militia. In April preceding, the 
Governor of that state was required by the President 
to order into the service of the United States this de- 
tachment of mihtia, which was principallj filled up 
by volunteers ; a conspicuous evidence of the patri- 
otism o[ the citizens of that state, and of the populari- 
ty of the war. This detachment rendezvoused at 
Dayton on the 29th of April, and early in June they 
proceeded to Urbanna, where, on the 10th they were 
joined by the 4th regiment of United States' Infan- 
try. The next day (being seven days previous to the 
declaration of war,) they commenced their march 
through a wilderness, presenting numerous obstacles ; 
being destitute of roads, bridges, and every facility 
to the march of an army which civilization aifords."^ 
The country from Urbanna to the rapids of the Mau- 
mee, or Miami of the Lakes, at that time belonged 
to the Indians, (but has since, with the exception of 
some reservations, been ceded to the United States,) 
and contained no settlements but those of the natives. 
From thence to Detroit, along the border of Lake 
Erie and Detroit river, were several French and Ca- 
nadian settlements, which contained some other emi- 
grants that had more recently come among them. 
By the treaty which General Wayne made with the 
Indians in 1795, (commonally called the Grenville 
treaty,) there were ceded to the United States a 
number of tracts, generally of six miles square, at dif- 

* History of the war. 



OLIVER H. PERRV. 79 

ferent stages, along the navigable waters, from'the 
Ohio river to the Lakes ; the object of which was 
to provide for the estabhshment of a chain of posts, 
which might constitute a barrier between tlie Indi- 
ans and our frontier settlements. Previously to the 
war, however, nofortsorblock houses had been erect- 
ed upon these ceded tracts ; and the country from 
Urbanna to the Rapids, a distance of more than 1 20 
miles, at the time it was penetrated by General Hull's 
army, did not contain a civilized being, nor disclose 
a single trace of civilization. This dreary wilderness 
was traversed in about twenty days, the army having 
arrived at the Rapids the last of June. 

The transition from a frightful wilderness, ten- 
anted only by the ferocious savage and v/ild beasts, 
to a country beautiful and highly picturesque by na- 
ture, enlivened by the visible evidences of civil- 
ization, and presenting to view the dwellings of their 
countrymen, had a most surprising and animating 
effect upon the army. From the fatigue of the rout, 
the difficulties encountered, and the privations endu- 
red, the army, most of whom were unaccustomed to 
the ordinary hardships of a soldiers' life, at the time 
they arrived here, were much dispirited ; but imme- 
diately every aspect changed ; the gloom of the wil- 
derness disappeared ; a renewed energy and forti- 
tude was discoverable, and a beam of joy visible up- 
on every countenance. 

Having dispatched a small schooner, loaded with 



80 LIFE OF 

hospital stores andofficers' baggage for Detroit, guard- 
ed by a lieutenant and thirty men, and remained 
two or three days for refreshments, the army pro- 
ceeded on their march. After a fatiguing march of 
more than a month, on the 5th of July, they arrived 
and encamped at Spnng Wells, opposite Sandwich, 
and within a few miles of Detroit. The British hav- 
ing heard of the declaration of war, captured the 
schooner which had been dispatched for Detroit. 

On being informed of the declaration of war, Gen- 
eral Hull, who had been authorised, in case of such 
an event, to act offensively, and invade Canada, or- 
dered arrangements to be immediately made for that 
enterprise — an enterprise which at that time it was- 
thought promised almost certain success. Accor- 
dingly great exertions were made by the officers to 
discipline the troops, to inspire them with proper 
sentiments of subordii^ation and obedience to or- 
ders ; their arms wxre examined and repaired, and 
several pieces of ordinance which were in the fort 
of Detroit, were mounted and fitted for service. 

The necessary preparations Imving been made, on 
the 12th of July, the army crossed the river inta 
Canada, and encamped at Sandwich, a httle below 
Detroit, It is worthy of notice that in this, the first 
attempt since our independence to lead the militia, 
in the service of the United States, without the limits 
thereof, the constitutional principle was not entirely 
inoperative, a small part of one company having re- 



OLIVER H. PERRY, 81 

lused to cross into Canada. The inhabitants having, 
on the approach of the enemy, been thrown into the 
greatest consternation, and fled in every direction. 
General Hull issued a proclamation offering protec- 
tion to all who should not take a part in the war ; 
whereupon many returned to their homes. Col. 
M'Arther, with a rifle corps and a company of mili- 
tia, having been detached to reconnoitre the country, 
penetrated to McGregor's mills, upon the river La 
Trench, or Thames, near the spot where Proctor's 
army was subsequently captured by General Harri- 
son. This detachment left Sandwich on the 14tb, 
and returned on the 1 7th, having seized and taken 
possession of a considerable quantity of ammunition, 
blankets, and other military stores, and collected a 
considerable supply of provisions. That district of 
Upper Canada, which was traversed by M^Arther, 
is a beautiful and interesting country, and at this 
time, being the harvest season, the fields were every 
where bending under the weight of the ' yellow grain' 
with which they were enlivened and adorned. But 
the harvest song had given place to the harsh notes 
of war ; and numerous fields of wheat, which were 
remarkably fine, were left ungathered ; every male 
who was capable of bearing arms, having been draft- 
ed for the defence of the Province. On the 16th, the 
day preceding the return of M'Arther, another re- 
connoitering party of 280 men, under Colonel Cass, 
traversed the country towards Maiden, where the 



32 LIFE OP 

British forces and those of their Indian allies, were 
concentrated. This place, which is sometimes cal= 
led Amherstburgh, is situated near the junction of 
the Detroit river with Lake Erie, and is about thir- 
teen miles south from Sandwich. The road follows 
the course of the Detroit river, and crosses two 
creeks and the river Aux Canards, which is about 
four miles north from Maiden, where Colonel Cass 
found an advanced post of the enemy, that comman- 
ded the bridge across that river. — Colonel Cass hav- 
ing examined the position of the British posts, resol- 
ved to attempt to surprise them ; with a view to 
which, he posted a company of riflemen near the 
bridge, and proceeded with the rest of hi? detach- 
ment, about five miles up the river, where they for- 
ded it, and proceeded upon the opposite side of the 
river towards the bridge ; the riflemen in the mean- 
time, agreeably to their instructions, commenced and 
kept up a fire upon the enemy. The surprise would 
have been complete had it not been, that the pro- 
gress of the detachment under Colonel Cass was im- 
peded by a creek, which compelled them to make a 
circuit of two or three miles, that occasioned consid- 
erable delay, and afforded the British time and op- 
portunity to prepare for their defence ; yet on the 
approach of Colonel Cass, they did not deem it ex- 
pedient to attempt to maintain their position, but re- 
treated to Maiden, leaving the bridge in the posses- 
sion of the Americans. This bridge, the importance 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 83 

of the possession of which was most apparent, as 
forming the principal obstruction between the Amer- 
ican camp at Sandwich and the British at Maiden, 
however, was abandoned ; Colonel Cass not feeling 
authorised to retain it, or to leave there any part of 
his detachment, all of which returned to Sandwich ; 
and no effort was afterv/ards made bj the command- 
ing general to regain the possession of it. General 
Hull, with the main body of the army, had hitherto 
remained entirely inactive. No movement had been 
attempted, nor any effective preparations therefor 
been made, although it was apparent to every capa- 
city, that the success of the enterprise depended al- 
most entirely upon the celerity of their operations, 
and an immediate display of energy and power, be- 
fore the enemy were prepared to make a stand, and 
while the inhabitants were overwhelmed with con- 
sternation, who by active and successful operations, 
would have been either brought to the American 
camp, or confined to their homes as non-combatants. 
An invading army is not only conquered by defeat ; 
the want of success, the reputation of which is indis- 
pensable to an army in that situation, and even inac- 
tivity, are often fatal to it. Nearly a month elapsed 
after this invading army had entered Canada, before 
a single piece of cannon or a mortar was upon wheels 
suitable for an attack upon Maiden. 

On the 7th of August, two 24 pounders brought 
from Detroit, and three howitzers, were mounted 



84 LIFE OF 

and fitted for service. But at this time the aspect of 
affairs was greatly changed. The British had recei- 
ved great reinforcements of Indians, having instiga- 
ted all the tribes within the reach of their influence, 
to " raise the tomahawk" against the United States. 
On the 17th of July, Fort Makinaw, or Michillimack- 
inac, situated upon an island in the entrance of the 
strait between the lakes Huron and Michigan, was 
captured by a combined force of British and Indians ; 
information of which reached the army on the 28th. 
Several indecisive skirmishes between reconnoitering 
parties, sent out by General Hull, and the advanced 
posts of the British and Indians, principally in the 
neighbourhood of the river Aux Canards, had occur- 
red ; the bridge across that river, had been taken up 
by the British, excepting the sleepers ; a battery erec- 
ted atone end of it, and the Queen Charlotte, carry- 
ing eighteen 24 pounders, and a gun boat, were sta- 
tioned in the Detroit River, at the mouth of the Aux 
Canards, one mile only from the bridge. These 
events, particularly the capture of Fort Makinaw, 
were relied upon by General Hull as having rendered 
it necessary for him to recross the river and leave 
Canada. But these events, with the exception of the 
fall of Makinaw, were within his controul, and in a 
measure, the consequences of his inactivity. That 
the surrender of that post contributed to " open the 
northern hive of Indians," will not be doubted, and so 
did the inactive and inefficient operations of his ar- 



OLIVER H. PERKV. ' S:0 

my. The Indians are elated with success, and choose 
to join the strongest party. But independent of the 
influence of any special circumstances, there were 
causes of a permanent nature, which were calculated 
to attach the Indians to the British, and to induce 
them to join them in making war upon the United 
States. It is with these barbarous people, as with 
many others more civilized, but not more under the 
dominion of reason — their friendship is bestowed 
upon those who flatter their prejudices, and afford 
them the facilities of indulging their savage propen- 
sities ; whereas those who attempt to reclaim them 
from their wretched condition, to wean them from 
the hunter state, and to introduce among them a 
knowledge of agriculture, the mechanic arts, and all 
the advantages of civilization, are regarded with sus- 
picion, if not with hostility. 

There is also another cause which has tended to 
render the Indians more suspicious and unfriendly 
to the citizens of the United States, than to those of 
Canada. It is the rapid progress which the former 
have made in the formation and extension of new 
settlements. They have been alarmed at the rapid 
inroads of civilization, which have compelled them 
either to abandon their hunter state, or their lands, 
and retire farther to the west. Upon these princi- 
ples, the pohcy of the colonial government of the 
Canadas, both when subject to France, and since 
they have been under England, with relation to the 
8 • 



86 LIFE OF 

Indian tribes, has been founded ; and this policy is 
diametrically opposite to that which has governed 
the conduct of the United States, in their relations 
with the Indians within their borders. 

They have attempted to reclaim them from their 
savage condition, to cheer their gloom with the lights 
of civilization, and to introduce among them the 
practice of cultivating their lands, instead of reserv- 
ing them for hunting grounds ; but on the contrary, 
the British, and formerly the French, have endeav- 
oured to keep them in their savage state, and de- 
pendent upon hunting for subsistance ; by means of 
which they have been enabled to carry on a lucra- 
tive fur trade, and of making use of them as an in- 
strument of war. The policy of the British govern- 
ment has reference only to its own interests — That 
of the United States, not only to its own interest, but 
the amelioration of the condition of the Indians. 

In the several wars in which the United States 
have been engaged, both before and since their In- 
dependence, the savages have always been instigated 
to join with their enemies in the contest. — During 
the three first years of the French war of 1756, they 
were used by the French as a most destructive in- 
strument of hostility, and gave to the operations of 
the war a character peculiarly ferocious and horri- 
ble. At that period, the British government execra- 
ted, in the severest terms, this conduct of the French, 
■\nd insfsted that there was no excuse for their em- 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 8t 

^)ioying, as a means of hostility, a force which disre- 
garded all the rules of warfare recognized by civili- 
zed nations, and whose ferocity they themselves 
could not controul. Yet since the Canadas have 
fallen into the hands of the British, they have not 
been behind their predecessors, the French, in mak- 
ins use of this terrible instrument of war, the conse- 
quences of which are so abhorrent to the feelings of 
humanity. In the war of the revolution, the ruins 
of Wyoming, and other desolations, attested the at- 
trocities of the savages, then in the service of Great- 
Britain, and subsequently, particularly in 1791, after 
the memorable defeat of General St. Clair, our fron- 
tier settlements have been the victims of savage 
barbarity. 

At the commencement of the late war, it was hop- 
ed, and by some believed, that these scenes of hor- 
ror would not have been reacted upon our frontiers ; 
that the savages who were no way concerned in the 
contest, would have been suffered to "smoke the 
pipe of peace," and not to have taken any part in 
the war. The result, however, was otherwise. The 
bloody tomahawk was again put into the hand of the 
savage, and the massacres of the river Raisin, swel- 
led the record of their attrocities, and added anoth- 
er to the many evidences of the wickedness of the 
employment of them by civilized powers. 
• From the permanent influence which the British 
possessed over the Indians, aided by the fall of Fort 



^8 LIFE OF 

Makinaw, and other circumstances already noticed, 
they were enabled in a short time to collect a con- 
siderable number of Indian warriors. They also re- 
ceived reinforcements of regulars and militia, for the 
defence of Maiden, before General Hull had made 
the necessary preparations for attacking it. The 
Indians in the mean time crossed the Detroit river, 
and interrupted the communication with the state of 
Ohio, upon which the American army depended for 
supplies. It being of great importance to keep open 
this communication, and as a reinforcement of vol- 
unteers, with provisions, were daily expected upon 
this rout, which were exposed to be cut off by the 
Indians, on the 4th of August, a detachment of 200 
men, was dispatched for their protection, and to open 
this communication. 

Having proceeded to Brownstown, the detach- 
ment was surprised by an ambuscade of Indians, and 
completely defeated ; whereupon they returned to 
camp, without having effected the object of their 
expectation. 

About this time an express arrived from General 
Hall, commanding the American troops on the Niag- 
ara frontier, stating that there was no prospect of a 
co-operation from that quarter. Under these cir- 
cumstances, on the evening of the 7th and the morn- 
ing; of the 8th of August, General Hull, with the ar- 
my, returned to Detroit. But many of the inhabit- 
ants of Upper Canada, having put themselves under 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 89 

the protection of General Hull, in consequence of 
his proclamation, it was deemed necessary that some 
provision should be made for their security. Accor- 
dingly, a fortress was established a little above Sand- 
wich, on the Detroit river, where there was left a 
garrison of 300 men. The main body of the army 
having encamped at Detroit, General Hull immedi- 
ately ordered a detachment, under the command of 
the brave Colonel Miller, consisting of regulars, and 
a corps of artillerists, having one six pounder and a 
howitzer, a small body of cavalry, and some of the 
Ohio and Michigan volunteers, comprising 600 men, 
of whom the principal part were regulars, to open 
the communication with the state of Ohio, which was 
deemed of primary importance. This detachment 
left Detroit on the 8th of August, and having pro- 
ceeded to Maguago, about 14 miles from Detroit, at 
about 4 o'clock, P. M., the next day the van guard 
of the detachment was attacked by a formidable body 
of British and Indians : they however received the 
attack in the most gallant manner, and maintained 
their position, although exposed to a heavy fire, un- 
til the line was formed, and the whole detachment, 
with the exception of the rear guard, was brought in- 
to action. The enemy had erected a temporary 
breast v/ork of logs, behind which their line was form- 
ed, a numerous body of Indians extending into a 
thick wood upon their left. — The Americans having 
formed, immediately advanced to within a short dis* 

8* 



90 LIFE OP 

tance ©f the enemy, reserving their fire, when thej 
made a general discharge, and then rushed upon the 
enemy with charged bayonets. The enemy relying 
upon the security of their position, did not give way 
until forced by the point of the bayonet, when they 
retreated. They were pursued with activity and 
vigour for about two miles ; but the troops being fa- 
tigued, and night approaching, they gave up the pur- 
suit, and returned to take care of the wounded. — 
The Indians in this action fought with the most des- 
perate bravery. They were commanded by the cel- 
ebrated Tecumseh, who fell fourteen months after- 
wards, in the action upon the Thames, gallantly 
fighting in the British service. The Americans in 
this affair, displayed great coolness and intrepidity. 
Their loss was considerable, 18 killed and 64 wound- 
ed. The loss of the enemy was not ascertained ; but 
the prisoners, among whom were four regulars, 
stated that Major Muir, who commanded, and two 
subaltern officers, were wounded, and fifteen pri- 
vates killed and wounded of the 4Jst regiment. The 
loss of the miHtia and volunteers, must have been 
more serious, as they were in the warmest part o* 
the action. Of the Indians, 40 were found dead on 
the field ; the number wounded was not known. — 
Their leader, Tecumseh, received a slight wound. 
The number of the enemy in this action is not know ; 
jt is stated, however, by General Hull, to have been 
400 regulars and volunteers, and more than that num- 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 91 

ber of Indians. This victory, however complete 
and honorable, was productive of little benefit. The 
enemy although defeated, were in a situation to re- 
inforce, and still to endanger, if not entirely obstruct 
the communication with Ohio ; and the condition of 
the wounded and sick, which required that they 
should be removed to the camp, and the occurrence 
of a severe storm of rain, obliged Colonel Miller to 
return with the detachment to Detroit. It was at- 
tempted to transport the wounded by water, boats 
having been sent for that purpose from Detroit ; but 
this proved to be impracticable, the enemy at Mai- 
den having discovered the boats, dispatched the 
Queen Charlotte and Hunter, in pursuit of them, 
whereby it was found necessary to remove the woun- 
ded to the woods, where they were left until wag- 
gons could be procured from Detroit, by which they 
were conveyed to that place. About this time the 
troops were withdrawn from the fort at Sandwich, 
which was abandoned and demolished. 

From a chain of circumstances and events, equal- 
ly surprising and mysterious, suspicions of treachery 
in the commanding officer, which for some time had 
existed among the troops, were now become greatly 
strengthened and extended. So strong were these 
suspicions, that a letter was addressed by five of the 
principal officers, to governor Meigs of Ohio, inform- 
ing him of the inauspicious situation of their affairs, 
and of their suspicions as to their commanding gene^ 
ral. 



92 LIFE OF 

It being understood that a reinforcement of troops, 
with provisions and supplies for the army, had arriv- 
ed at the river Raisin, which it was apprehended 
might be captured by the enemy, on the 14th of Au- 
gust, Colonels Cass and M'Auther, with 400 of the 
most effective men, were dispatched to make anoth- 
er attempt to open the communication with Ohio, 
and to penetrate to the river Raisin. This detach^ 
ment proceeded upon the upper rout, through the 
woods. In the mean time the British had not been 
inactive or inattentive to the movements of General 
Hull. On the 1 4th, the same day Colonels Cass and 
MAuther were detached, and ordered upon the 
aforesaid expedition, they began to erect batteries 
opposite to Detroit, and previous to this, had taken 
possession of Sandwich. On the 15th, the following 
day. General Brock dispatched two officers from 
Sandwich, with a flag of truce to General Hull, de- 
manding the surrender of the army under his com- 
mand, and fort Detroit ; threatening all the horrors 
of Indian outrage in case of refusal, by an intimation 
that if the contest was commenced, it would be en- 
tirely beyond his power to controul the savages. In 
answer to this extraordinary demand, considering 
the circumstances under which it was made, and the 
relative strength of the two armies. General Hull 
replied that he was in a situation to meet any force 
which the enemy had at their disposal, and that he 
had no apprehension as to the consequences which 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 1>3 

might arise from the exercise of it. On receiving 
this intelligence by the return of the flag, the British 
immediately commenced firing from their batteries 
upon Detroit, which was returned from the fort at 
that place. The firing continued until 10 o'clock 
that night, upon both sides, and was renewed at the 
dawn of light. During the night the Queen Char- 
lotte and Hunter, had advanced up the river, nearly 
to Detroit, and took a position to cover the landing 
of the British and Indians, which they effected with 
perfect safety, no attempt being made to oppose 
them, and immediately advanced towards the fort of 
Detroit, whereupon General Hull, without making a 
single effort to repel them, ordered a white flag to 
be hoisted, and the firing which was still kept up by 
the fort upon the battery on the opposite side, to be 
stopped. Upon this, the firing from the enemy's 
battery ceased, and an interview immediately took 
place, which resulted in an agreement upon articles 
of capitulation, whereby all the troops, both regulars, 
militia and volunteers, including the detachment un- 
der Colonels M'Auther and Cass, which had not 
then returned, and the reinforcement expected from 
Ohio, supposed then to be upon the river Raisin 5 
the fort and town of Detroit ; all the military stores 
and arms, and every article of public property, of 
whatever description, were surrendered to the Brit- 
ish. The militia and volunteers were paroled, on 
condition of their not serving again, unless exchange 



94 LIFE OF 

ed. There was a provision in the articles for the 
security of private property. 

The detachment of Colonels M'Auther and Cass, 
having been unable to penetrate to the river Raisin, 
returned to Detroit shortly after this capitulation. 
When within a mile of the place, they first heard of 
its surrender, and of the main army, when a council 
was held, and it was determined to dispatch an offi- 
cer to the fort with a flag of truce. This having been 
done, the officer returned the ensuing evening, ac- 
companied by two British officers, by vi'hom they 
were informed that they were prisoners of war ; 
whereupon the detachment marched to Detroit, and 
surrendered themselves up to the British. 

Captain Brush, who commanded the detachment 
from Ohio, at the river Raisin, the day after General 
Hull had surrendered the army, received from a Brit- 
ish officer, who had been dispatched for the purpose, 
copies of the articles of capitulation, together with a 
letter from Colonel M'Auther, signifying that his de- 
tachment was included in the surrender. The ex- 
traordinary nature of these dispatches, occasioned 
them at first to be considered as forgeries, and the 
officer was seized and thrown into confinement ; but 
however great the surprise which they occasioned, or 
the reluctance with which they could be believed, 
the mind was soon deprived of the relief which it 
could derive from doubts, the <ruth of all that was 
stated being confirmed by a number of soldiers, who 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 95 

had arrived there from Detroit. Immediately a 
council was called which, after due consideration, de- 
cided that General Hull had no authority to capitu- 
late for them, and consequently that they were not 
bound to regard his surrender of them, not being at 
the time under his command ; and considering them- 
selves at liberty to provide for their own safety, they 
resolved instantly to return to Ohio. What of the 
public property and stores could not be carried ofF, 
it was deemed expedient not to destroy, as some of 
the soldiers were obliged to be left behind, in conse- 
quence of sickness, and a number of American fami- 
lies had taken refuge in the fort ; and it was also ap- 
prehended that the destruction of the public propert}? 
at this place, might induce the British to treat the 
prisoners surrendered to them at Detroit, with more 
severity. These resolutions were immediately car- 
ried into effect, and the detachment returned in safe- 
ty. — Among the public property surrendered, were 
twenty-five pieces of iron, and eight of brass ordi- 
nance, belonging to the fort at Detroit ; several of 
the latter were received by the British with great en- 
thusiasm, being the same pieces that, thirty-five years 
before, on the same day and month, (the IGth August, 
1777,) were surrendered, by a detachment of Bur- 
goyne's army, to the Americans, at Bennington. 

The unfortunate and disastrous result of the ope- 
rations of the army under the command of General 
Hull, occasioned the greatest surprise and astonish- 



96 LIFE OF 

ment through the country ; and great solicitude and 
concern with all who anticipated with pleasure the 
success of our arms, and who regarded the national 
honour. But with the settlers of the north-western 
frontier, who were thereby left wholly defenceless, 
exposed to the murderous incursions and savage out- 
rages of the Indians, it produced the most hvely ap- 
prehensions and alarm. 

This event was in every point of view productive 
of the most serious consequences. It occasioned all 
offensive operations in that quarter to be abandoned, 
or postponed to a distant day ; laid open an extensive 
frontier, which for more than twelve months, was ex- 
posed to all the horrors of Indian warfare ; occasion- 
ed many settlements to be broken up ; encouraged and 
greatly increased the hostility of the Indians ; convert- 
ed the territory of Michigan into a British province, 
and rendered necessary all the subsequent operations 
of our troops under the command of General Harri- 
son, upon that frontier, attended with an immense ex- 
pense to the government, and the sacrifice of many 
valuable lives ; but which resulted so honourably to 
him and to his country, in the decisive victory upon 
the Thames, 

To complete the disasters of this campaign, fort 
Chicago or Dearborn, situated near the south western 
extremity of lake Michigan, was evacuated, and the 
garrison all massacred, or made prisoners, by the In- 
dians. About the time General Hull returned from 



^ OLIVER H. PERRY. Mi 

Canada, he dispatched a message to Captain Heald, 
who commanded at Chicago, directing him to evacu- 
ate the fort ; make such disposition of the public 
property as he might think proper, and proceed with 
the garrison, consisting of ^^ men, to Detroit. — 
Agreeably to the orders of General Hull, Captain 
Wells proceeded from fort Wayne, with 30 Miamies, 
for Chicago, where he arrived on the 13th of August, 
for the purpose of escorting the garrison at that post 
to Detroit. It being impossible to remove or pre- 
serve the public property, the next day all the goods 
in the fort were distributed among the neighbouring 
Indians, who having understood that the fort was to 
be abandoned, and the public property given to them, 
had come in for the purpose. But the surplus arms 
ammunition, and spiritous liquors, were destroy- 
ed, from an apprehension that the Indians might 
make a bad use of them. 

The necessary arrangements being made, on the 
1 5th the fort was evacuated, and the garrison com- 
menced their march for Detroit, a part of the In- 
dians being stationed in front, and the remainder in 
the rear. They had proceeded but about two miles 
along the border of lake Michigan, having the lake on 
their left, and a high sand bank on their right, when 
they were fired upon by a party of Indians, from be- 
hind the bank, which was returned by the garrison, 
and a severe, but unequal contest ensued. The gar- 
rison receiving no assistance from the Miamies, were 
9 



98 LIFE OF 

soon overpowered. In fifteen minutes, thirty-eight 
of their number, together with two women and twelve 
children, were killed, and the remainder having been 
surrounded, were made prisoners. These unfortu. 
iiate individuals, consisting not only of soldiers, but 
of women and children, were carried back to the 
fort, and distributed among the different tribes, accor- 
ding to the " rules of war" of the Indians. The next 
morning, the Indians burnt the fort and departed 
with their prisoners.* There were between four and 
five hundred Indians in the action, of whom fifteen 
were killed. Captain Heald, a Lieutenant, twenty- 
live non-commissioned ofticers and soldiers, and 
eleven women and children, fell into the hands of 
the Indians. Captain Heald and his lady having 
been carried to the mouth of the river St. Joseph, 
were left there with an Indian trader, both of them 
being badly wounded. From thence they proceed- 
ed to Makinaw, then in the possession of the British, 
to whom the Captain surrendered himself as a pris- 
oner of war. 

Among the consequences which followed the dis- 
astrous issue of the operations of the north-western 
army under General Hull, was the undisputed do- 
minion which it gave to the British upon Lake Erie, 
and which they maintained until the signal victory of 
the 10th of September, the following year. The 
I • nitcd States' brig Adams fell into the hands of the 

IliFtory of (he War, page 18. 



OLIVER il. PERRY* 99 

British at Detroit, and was subsequently recaptured 
by Lieutenant Elliot. 

The extensive and manifold evils and embarrass- 
ments arising from the surrender of General Hull, 
were not entirely without their accompanying ad- 
vantages. The surrender of a fort, and of an army, 
of which favourable and even sanguine expectations 
had been indulged, and the exposure of an extensive 
frontier, to the ravages of Indian warfare, excited a 
lively sensibility, and awakened a spirit of patriotism 
throughout the United States, and particularly in the 
western country. Early in August, a body of troops 
destined for the relief and reinforcement of General 
Hull, to be commanded by General Harrison, had 
been ordered to rendezvous at Louisville, and the 
red banks on the Ohio river. This served as a di- 
rection and rallying point to the numerous volun- 
teers who, animated with a spirit of patriotism, and 
a sense of the danger to which their brethren in the 
frontier settlements were exposed, poured forth from 
almost every part of Kentucky and Ohio, upon the 
spreading of the intelligence of the fate of General 
Hull's army. So great was the number, and so 
strong their ardour, that it became necessary to re- 
press, rather than excite the public spirit, in this sec- 
tion of the country. Here, all was unanimity ; all 
were united in one cause — the cause of their coun- 
try. If this spirit had prevailed throughout the un- 
ion, it would have given a very different complexion 



JOO LIFE OF 

to the events of the war. A considerable portion of 
those who volunteered their services, were not ac- 
cepted, the whole number being so great ; yet it was 
with difficulty they could be persuaded to return to 
their homes. 

General Harrison having taken command of the 
troops, his attention was first directed to the relief of 
the exposed frontier posts. Accordingly, he pro- 
ceeded to Piqua, where he arrived on the 2d of Sep- 
tember, having a force, consisting of regulars and 
volunteers, of about 2500 men. Here he received 
liis military stores, and made the necessary arrange- 
ments ; when on the 5th, the army commenced their 
march for fort Wayne, situated at the junction of the 
rivers St. Mary and St. St. Joseph, whose united wa- 
ters constitute the Maumce, or Miami of the Lakes. 
The Indians, flushed with the success which, in con- 
junction with the British, they had experienced, had 
advanced as far as this post, which was invested by 
them when General Harrison approached ; but they 
fled precipitately, before he arrived, on the 12th of 
September. 

General Harrison, deeming it expedient to break 
lip the towns and disperse some of the hostile Indian 
tribes, before he proceeded towards Detroit, two ex- 
peditions were fitted out, one destined against the 
Miami towns, upon the Wabash, below its junction 
with the Tippacanoe river, the other against the Pot» 
awatamie settlements, situated upon a stream called 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 101 

St. Joseph, which discharges itself into Lake Michi- 
gan. These enterprises were both attended with 
success. Nine villages were destroyed, and all the 
growing corn cut up, with a view to disperse the In- 
dians from that part of the country, which the want 
of provisions, it was thought, would be most hkely 
to effect. 

A short time after tliese events, a reinforcement 
to the army arrived at fort Wayne, under General 
Winchester. General Harrison at this time held no 
military commission under the United States. IJc 
was Governour of Indiana, and had been breveted a 
Major General, and placed in command from the 
emergency of the occasion, by the Governour of 
Kentucky. On the arrival of Winchester, who had 
been appointed a Brigadier General, by the Presi- 
dent, and designed to command the north-western 
army, Harrison relinquisihcd the command, and set 
out for Indiana, with a body of mounted men, with 
which he intended to destroy the Indian settlements 
in that quarter. A few days after, however, and be- 
fore Harrison had proceed far, an express arrived 
with a commission from the President, wherein he 
was appointed commander in chief of the north- 
western army. This appointment is supposed to 
have been made in consequence of the representa- 
tions which were made to government hy the Ilen- 
tuckians, who had great confidence in General Har- 
lisou-— a confidence which, as subsequent event? pro- 
9* 



:^02 LlFt UF 

ved, was not misplaced. It however, created no 
jealousy or dissatisfaction, and General Winchester 
continued in the service, as second in command. — 
On the 22d, Winchester marched with 400 regulars, 
a brigade of Kentucky militia, and a body of caval- 
ry, comprising about 2000 men, for fort Defiance, 
and the day after. General Harrison returned to fort 
Wayne, and resumed the command. 

The transportation of the provisions and baggage 
of a marching army, is usually attended with conside- 
rable difficulty and delay ; but in a country like this 
it is an undertaking presenting the most serious ob- 
stacles and embarrassments. The country was not 
only without roads, but intersected by innumerable 
small streams, which are swelled and rendered im- 
passable by rains, and possesses a soil, naturally rich, 
deep, and free from stone, and which is rendered 
more soft and miry, from the prevalence of mois- 
ture, and the decomposition of vegitable substances, 
which in process of time, has produced an artificial 
stratum of considerable depth. From the difficul- 
ties arising from these and other causes, of transport- 
ing provisions with an army, traversing a gloomy 
wilderness, each soldier was furnished with six days 
supplies, and General Harrison proceeded to fort St. 
Mary's to forward supplies for the army, protected by 
a detachment of men, under Colonel Jennings, by 
the Au Glaze, which affi^rds a water conveyance for 
a considerable part of the distance. 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 103 

The army being now in the vicinity of the hostile 
Indians, and in the heart of a country affording great 
facilities for their mode of warfare, great vigilance 
and precaution were made use of to guard against a 
surprise. With a view to this object, the army was 
formed into three divisions — consisting of the centre, 
near which was the baggage, having a strong guard 
in front and in rear, and the right and left wings, 
which reached sixty, or an hundred yards distance 
from the centre. There was also an advance guard 
consisting of about 300 men, which marched so far in 
front as to bring their rear even with the advance 
baggage guard ; and the whole were preceded by a 
company of spies, usually one or two miles ahead 
the rear of which was covered by the horse. Such 
were the difficulties and obstructions which the ar- 
my had to encounter, that their progress was only 
from six to ten miles a day. They fortified their en- 
campment for night, which was done by forming 
around it a breast work of logs and brush, four or 
fire feet in height, and as soon as it was dark, small 
fires were kindled at the mouths of the tents, and 
large ones without the breast work. These precau- 
tions rendered it necessary for the army to halt from 
their march about 3 o'clock. On the third day of 
the march, a trail was observed, but was thought, 
however, to indicate a party of only twelve or fifteen 
Indians. A party of horse followed up the trail for 
six or eight milcsj when having pressed liard upon 



104 LIFE OF 

the Indians, they scattered, which occasioned the 
pursuit to be given up. On the 25th September, 
being the day after, Ensign Legett, of the regulars, 
and four nnen, proceeded at their own soHcitation, 
in advance of the army, for fort Defiance, 25 miles 
distance, to reconnoitre the number and situation of 
the enemy. These brave and patriotic youths, who 
were influenced by the ardour of their feelings and 
not by the dictates of experience, paid dearly for 
their temerity, in undertaking an enterprise so preg- 
nant with danger, and for which they were so little 
qualitied by experience. They were found the next 
day, about six miles from the place where the army 
encamped the preceding night, shot, scalped and 
tomahawked in the most barbarous and shocking 
manner. The day following, being the 27th, the 
spies, accompanied by about forty of the horse, were 
dispatched to bury them ; but they had not proceed- 
ed far, before a body of Indians were discovered in 
ambuscade, on each side of a trail, upon which the 
Indians supposed that the detachment would march. 
Their stratagem, however, did not succeed — Ballard, 
the commander of the party, being ac<paainted with 
the character of Indian warfare, marched his men in 
two divisions, one on each side of the trail. Being 
frustrated in their ambuscade, the Indians proceeded 
to an elevation a sliort distance ahead, where they 
were tired upon by the spies, which they immediate- 
ly returned, accompanied with the most terrific yel!* 



OLIVER H. PERRV. 105 

A charge was then made by the cavalry, but on their 
approach, the Indians, changing the war yell to the 
retreat yell, fled precipitately to their '• strong holds', 
the swamps and thickets. In this affair, the detach- 
ment had one wounded only ; the Indians were sup- 
posed to have suffered considerably, several trails of 
blood being discovered. After interring the remains 
of their unfortunate brethren, the party returned to 
the army without further molestation from the ene- 
my. On the 28th, several Indians having been dis- 
covered and fired upon by the spies, it was expected 
that a general engagement would take place, and the 
army was accordingly formed in order of battle ; but 
no enemy appearing, the line of march was again re- 
sumed. A party of horse having been dispatched 
ahead to reconnoitre, discovered a fresh trail of 
Indians, which, with other circumstances, induced a 
belief that a numerous body of the enemy were near 
at hand, which determined the General to cross the 
river and encamp upon the opposite side. This was 
done at the first ford that was discovered. Here a 
fresh and a large trail was observed, which at first 
occasioned great joy with the troops, it being suppos- 
ed to have been made by Col. Jennings' detachment, 
with the provisions, of v/hich they were then in great 
want. But this joy was as fallacious as the supposed 
facts from which it originated. The trail, instead of 
indicating their brethren, with the provisions of the 
army, proved to be the precursor of a large body of 



106 LIFE OF 

the enemy wlio were discovered by a parly ci hoi'ae. 
dispatched for the purpose, encamped three mile^ 
ahead, and two from fort Defiance, surrounded by 
savage fires and having war-poles erected, upon which 
were displayed the bloody flag. 

On the 29th, the General was apprised, by an ex- 
press from Colonel Jennings, that his detachment was 
then encamped on the Au Glaize, about 40 miles 
above fort Defiance, where, agreeably to orders, he 
had erected a block-house ; that he had not dared to 
proceed farther with the force he had, having ascer- 
tained by his spies, that the British and Indians were 
in possession of fort Defiance. On the morning of 
the 30th, a body of 30 horse, under Captain Garrard, 
were dispatched to Colonel Jennings' detachment 
on the Au Glaize, to escort a brigade of pack horses 
with provisions for the army, which was in a destitute 
and almost suffering condition. Garrard's body of 
horse, arrived on the following day, and in a few 
hours, started to return as an escort to the cavalcade 
charged with the conveyance of provisions, and reach- 
ed the army on the evening of the 2d of October. — 
Their arrival, together with the provisions, revived 
the desponding spirits of the army, exhausted with 
fatigue, and suffering from hunger; and the joy was 
greatly augmented, from the circumstance of their 
beloved General Harrison's having accompanied the 
escort, to resume the command. The army, during 
the absence of the detachment, had taken possession 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 107 

of fort Defiance, and the British and Indians had re- 
treated down the river. — General Harrison, on the 
4th of October, left fort Defiance, leaving the troops 
at that place, which were to form the left wing of 
his army, under General Winchester, to return to 
the settlements in Ohio, to organize and bring on 
the rest of his forces, which were to constitute the 
centre and right wing. 

General Tupper, who on the day of Harrison's 
departure had been ordered to proceed with his com- 
mand, consisting of nearly 1 000 mounted men, to the 
rapids of the Miami, and which expedition he had 
given up, principally from the undisciplined charac- 
ter of his troops, returned soon after to Urbanna. 
He was ordered to take command of a regiment of 
regulars and a body of Ohio volunteers and militia, 
which were to form the centre of the army, and pro- 
ceed to Fort M'Auther. The right wing which con- 
sisted of a brigade of Pennsylvania, and another of 
Virginia militia, was stationed at Sandusky. Having 
arrived at fort M'Auther, General Tupper made im- 
mediate arrangements for proceeding with an expe- 
dition to the Rapids. The force organized for the 
expedition, consisted of more than COO men, with 
w^hich he set out on the lOlh of October; each sol- 
dier carrying in his knapsack provisions for five days. 
On the 13th, having approached to within about thir- 
teen miles of the Rapids, an officer was dispatched 
^o reconnoitre the situation of the enemy, by whom, 



108 LIFE OF 

on his return, General Tupper wns informed that the 
British and Indians still possessed the fort, and occu- 
pied the settlements at the Rapids, and that their 
hoats and vessels lay a little below. 

In consequence of this information, it was thought 
expedient to suspend the march of the detachment 
until sun set, to prevent the enemy's obtaining infor- 
mation of them ; and then to proceed to a ford, about 
two and a half miles above the Rapids, with the view 
of crossing the river and attacking the enemy, 
if, on obtaining more particular information, it should 
be thought advisable. Accordingly, scouts were 
again sent out to examine the situation of the enemy, 
which having returned and brought satisfactory infor- 
mation, orders were given to ford the river and at- 
tack the enemy at the break of day ; but it was soon 
found that the troops could not pass. — So strong and 
rapid was the current, that a number of men in at- 
tempting to ford it were swept away, and could with 
difficulty be saved with the loss of their arms and am- 
munition. This plan of attacking the enemy having 
proved impracticable, an attempt was made the 
next morning to decoy them over ; with a view 
to which, a number of the spies proceeded down 
the river, and discovered themselves to the enemy . 
but the Indians were too old in stratagems to beta- 
ken in this ; a few only crossed the river, and they 
were too cautious to be drawn within the lines. The 
main body of the detachment then moved down the 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 109 

river opposite the enemy ; who disclosed considera- 
ble disorder as the advance guard opened from the 
Woods. The British immediately fell down the riv. 
er with the vessels and hoats. The Indians com- 
menced a fire of musketry, and also from a four poun- 
der, at the detachment, and their women were seen 
running off on the road to Detroit. General Tupper 
apprehending that his camp might be surprised, a 
number of Indians having been observed proceeding 
up the river, on the opposite side, ordered the de- 
tachment to return. Having proceeded to within 
about a mile of the encampment, some of the sol- 
diers being pinched with hunger, their provisions 
having for some time been exhausted, contrary to 
orders, fired upon a drove of hogs, and pursued thern 
nearly half a mile, and in the mean time, others 
leaving the ranks, entered a field to gather corn, 
who, in this situation, were attacked by a body of 
mounted Indians, and four of their number killed. 
The Indians then attacked the rear of the right 
flank, but the column being instantly thrown back, 
commenced a brisk fire upon the Indians, which caus- 
ed them to give way ; but they soon rallied, passed 
along the van guard, and made an impetuous chargje 
upon the rear of the left column, which, however, 
firmly resisted every attempt of the Indians to break 
the line, and in twenty minutes, the Indians were 
driven from the field. Yet apprehending that this 
attack of the mounted men was only intended to 
10 



110 LIFE OF 

throw the detachment into disorder, with a view to 
facilitate a more serious attack by the foot, the 
right column moved forward in marching order to 
guard against an attack upon the right flank. Be- 
fore this column had scarcely regained their posi- 
tion, information was received that the Indians were 
crossing the river in considerable numbers ; upon 
which the left column were directed to resume their 
marching order, and General Tupper advanced to 
the head of the right column, where he perceived 
';hat a body of the mounted Indians had crossed the 
liver — that others were then crossing 5 and that 
about 200 were on the opposite shore. A battalion 
was immediately ordered to advance, and charge 
those which had crossed. The charge was made 
with spirit and success. The Indians were forced to 
retire, and several of them were shot from their hor- 
ses whilst crossing the river. The horses possessed 
by the Indians on this occasion, were probably fur- 
nished by the British, being much superior to those 
usually used by them. They were also provided 
with holsters and pistols. Several of the charges 
were led on by Split Log, who was mounted on a 
well trained white horse. He sometimes fired moun- 
ted, and at others leaped from his horse and fired 
from behind a tree. He was supposed to have been 
wounded, as his horse was rode by another Indian 
in some of the last charges. When a warrior 
was shot from his horse, he was thrown on again 



OLIVER H. PERRY. Ill 

with an extraordinary dexterity, and carried off the 
tleld, it being customary with the Indians to carry otf 
their dead. Their provisions being exhausted, and 
no other means of obtaining a supply, the detachment 
was under the necessity of returning immediately to 
fort M^Auther, a distance of 40 miles, through a path- 
less wilderness. On the 13th of December, anoth- 
er expedition, under the command of General Tup- 
per, was fitted out for the Rapids. It consisted of 
from 1,500 to 2000 men. On the arrival of this de- 
tachment, they discovered, on the east side of the 
river, a few miles above the Rapids, a body of the 
enemy, of nearly 1000, of which 300 were Britisli 
regulars, and 6 or 700 Indians, General Tapper 
resolved to try the success of stratagem. He accor- 
dingly, having acquainted himself with the position 
of the enemy, ordered a small detachment to ad- 
vance, commence an attack, and then retreat. This 
artifice was attended with the expected success. The 
detachment was pursued by the British and Indians, 
with the greatest impetuosity, until they found them- 
selves nearly surrounded, when the Americans mak- 
ing a vigorous charge, they were repulsed and put to 
flight, in the utmost disorder and confusion, and with 
serious loss, nearly one hundred of British and In- 
dians, principally the latter, having been left upon 
the field, and many who plunged into the river 
as the only means of escape, were killed in attempt- 
ing to swim across it. 



112 LIFE OF 

Early in January, General Winchester proceeded, 
with the force under his command, from fort Defi- 
ance, down the river to the Rapids. Frenchtown? 
which is situated upon the river Raisin, having since 
the surrender of General Hull, been entirely defence- 
less, and exposed to the outrages of the hordes of 
savages which surrounded the place, a number of the 
inhabitants applied to General Winchester, on his 
arrival, and begged of him yerj earnestly, to aiford 
protection to that settlement. As motives of human- 
ity often prevail against the dictates of discretion, 
Winchester, with the unanimous advice of his offi- 
cers, agreed to comply with this request 5 and ac- 
cordingly, on t]ie 17th day, a detachment of about 
750 men, under Colonel Lewis, set out from the 
Rapids for Frenchtown. Having the following day 
arrived within about three miles of the settlement, 
the detachment was informed that a body of Indians 
were encamped there, and that they were apprised 
of the arrival of the Americans. This determined 
Col. Lewis to form the detachment in order of battle, 
and to cross the river on the ice. Having reached 
the opposite shore, the ]e{t wing and centre were 
ordered to dislodge the enemy from the houses and 
picketing where they were collected with their can- 
non. This order v/as successfully executed ; the 
two battalions, forming the left wing and centre, ad^ 
5/anced amidst a tremendous shower of musketry, 
sunnounting the obstacles of the picketing, and fen= 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 113 

cing, and charged and dislodged the enemy, who as 
they retreated, were pursued by the right wing, to 
the woods, a mile or more. Here they made a stand, 
covered by a chain of enclosed lots, a group of hou- 
ses, with a thick woods, full of fallen timber in their 
rear. In addition to their small arms, they were 
provided with a howitzer. The left and centre, in 
the woods, advanced towards the main body of the 
enemy, and commenced firing upon them, when their 
attention being thus occupied, the right advanced 
and drove them from the fences and houses, into the 
woods. Here the action became very warm and se- 
vere, between the right wing and the enemy, who 
had concentrated their forces on that side, with a 
view to break the line. They were, however com- 
pelled to retreat, but only before the point of the 
bayonet ; and although the Americans were greatly 
fatigued, they were driven in the whole more than 
two miles under a continual charge. The action, 
which commenced at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, 
continued until dark, when the detachment returned 
and encamped at the place which the enemy, pre- 
viously to the engagement, had occupied. The 
force of the enemy on this occasion could not be as- 
certained with certainty, but it was supposed to have 
consisted of about 80, or 100 British, and 400 In- 
dians. Their loss, as they were enabled to carry 
most of their killed and wounded off, was equally 
uncertain ; but from the blood, the trails of bodies 
*10 



134 LIFE OF 

dragged off, and the representation of the inhabitants 
living near the scene of action, it was thought to 
have been very great. Two of the Canadian mili- 
tia, and one Indian were made prisoners, and a con- 
siderable quantity of public stores was taken. The 
detachment had twelve killed and fifty wounded. 

On the 20th, the detachment was reinforced by 
250 men, accompanied by General Winchester, who 
assumed the command. Intelligence of these events 
at the river Raisin, soon reached General Proctor 
at Detroit, who immediately advanced with a force 
of 1500 British and ladians, of whom 300 were reg- 
ulars, to attack the Americans. He arrived on the 
evening of the 21st, and having reconnoitred the 
American detachment, commenced an attack upon 
their lines the next morning, at 6 o'clock, by a heavy 
tire of musketry, and of six pieces of field ordnance. 
The main body of the Americans were stationed 
within the pickets, on the right of which was a small 
body unprotected. The fire of the enemy was very 
severe, to which the body of troops forming the right 
were imminently exposed 5 they, however, with 
great firmness and gallantry, sustained the shock, 
for a quarter of an hour, when they began to give 
way, for the purpose of taking a position more fa- 
vourable to their own fire, and less exposed to that 
of the enemy. At this juncture, General Winches- 
ter, whose quarters were three or four hundred 
yards from the camp, arrived; who, observing the 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 115 

tight giving way, exerted himself to rally them, and 
again to form the line. His exertions, however, 
were unavailing ; the enemy observing the right 
giving way, concentrated their whole Indian force, 
and most of their militia, to that quarter, and bore 
down with redoubled violence. From the vast su- 
periority of their numbers, and the severity of their 
fire, the Americans were unable to form, but main- 
tained a destructive, but unequal conflict, for some 
time, when, having suflfered severely, all that survi- 
ved were made prisoners. The main body stationed 
within the pickets, maintained their position ; kept 
up a severe contest for several hours, and repulsed 
the British regulars, with great loss, in three succes- 
sive charges. The conflict was continued until 
about 10 o'clock, when General Winchester, who 
had previously been made a prisoner, was induced to 
accede to a capitulation, and sent a flag to the Amer- 
icans, who were still gallantly defending themselves, 
informing them that they were prisoners. Winches- 
ter had been brought by the enemy as a prisoner, 
into the part of the field where the conflict was rag- 
ing, and threatened that if the Americans did not in- 
stantly surrender, they should receive no quarters, 
but be abandoned to to the fury and outrage of the 
savages. This consideration, together with the ap- 
prehension that further resistance would be unavail- 
ing, induced him to agree to a capitulation. This 
threat, barbarous a§ it was, contained an implied 



IIG LIFE or 

promise, that it* the Americans surrendered at thai 
time, they should be protected from violence and 
outrage from the savages. But, instead of this, the 
most shocking and tragical scenes ensued, the record 
of which, attaches an indelible stain on the British 
arms, and the honour of British officers. Humanity 
recoils on contemplating these acts of horror, and 
would willingly, did not truth and justice forbid it, 
throw the veil of oblivion over them. But the tra- 
gical events of this disastrous day, and the massacres 
of the river Raisin, will long be remembered in wes- 
tern America, and still longer disgrace the page of 
history. 

After the battle, the prisoners, except 50 or 60, 
who were wounded, were carried by the British to 
Maiden. The morning after the action, the Indians 
who remained behind, together wnth about 50 that 
had returned from Maiden, commenced a massacre 
of the wounded Americans, accompanied with cir- 
cumstances of the greatest ferocity and horror ; and 
to complete the work of devastation and murder, the 
houses in which they were left were set fire to, and 
consumed, together with the remains of the unfortu- 
nate prisoners. But the massacre did not end here. 
The same day, a number of the prisoners who had not 
been wounded fell victims to the savage fury of the 
Indians, whose ferocity was so great that they would 
not suffer their remains to be interred, but left them 
above ground, where they were torn to pieces, and 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 117 

devoured by hogs. A few days after the action, a 
surgeon, with two assistants, was dispatched by Gen- 
eral Harrison, with a flag of truce, to the scene of ac- 
tion, to attend to the wounded, one of whom was 
killed, and the others treated with the greatest rude- 
ness and violence. The money which they had been 
furnished with by General Harrison, for the relief of 
the most pressing wants of the wounded, was forcibly 
taken from them, and they themselves made prison- 
ers, and carried to Montreal and confined. 

These horrid outrages, committed by Indians in 
the employ, and subject to the officers of a civilized 
nation, can only find an example in the massacre at 
fort William Henry, en lake George, during the 
French war, in 1 757. As their character admits of no 
palliation, so the truth of them admits of no doubt. 
They were attested by the inhabitants of Frenchtown, 
and by some of the officers who were afterwards 
purchased of the Indians. 

Intelligence of Lewis' having penetrated to the 
river Raisin, reached General Harrison at Lower 
Sandusky, from whence, supposing that he might be 
overpowered, he immediately proceeded for the rap- 
ids of the Miami, where he learned that Winchester 
had gone on with a reinforcement to Lewis' detach- 
ment. Here, intelligence of Winchester soon reach- 
ed him, upon which he immediately ordered the force 
under his command, consisting of 360, to prepare to 
march for the river Raisin, and in the mean time, pro- 



118 LIFE OF 

ceeded on himself, with his staff, to overtake and 
hasten the march of a detachment of 300, then on 
their march to that place. He soon overtook them 5 
but it being ascertained that Winchester's defeat 
was irretrievable, it was a unanimous opinion of the 
officers, that the detachment should return. It was> 
however, determined to dispatch a body of men, and 
120 of the most active were selected for the purpose? 
with directions to proceed as far as they could with 
safety, to assist those who might be so fortunate as to 
escape. But there were few fugitives from Win- 
chester's army. Not scarcely eiiough escaped to 
convey the sad tidings of the unhappy fate of their 
countrymen. The snow was so deep that not more 
than 40 or 50 got a mile from the seat of the action, 
nearly all of whom were overtaken by the enemy. 
A few escaped by proceeding down the lake and se° 
creting themselves. 

On the 23d of January, the day following Win^ 
Chester's defeat, General Harrison left the rapids of 
the Miami, and retreated to Carrying River, located 
about an equal distance between that place and 
Sandusky. The disaster upon the river Raisin, frus- 
trated the contemplated operations of General Har» 
rison, and rendered it necessary to raise an addition- 
al force, which, with other necessary preparations, 
occasioned considerable delay. In the month oi 
February, however, he advanced again to the Rap- 
ids, and immediately commenced the construction 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 119 

of a fort, which, in honour of the patriotic Governoiir 
of Ohio, he called Fort Meigs* This was a well con- 
structed, strong, and large fort, enclosing about nine 
acres of ground. It was in the form of an octagon, 
at each corner of which was a strong block-house, 
with cannon mounted, so as to rake each line, and 
which commanded every elevation nearthe fort. The 
lines between the block-houses, consisted of strong 
picketings, fifteen ieet in height, supported by an 
embankment, or breast-work of clay, on each side. 
Several log batteries were also erected, and well 
supplied with cannon. Harrison's force consisting 
principally of militia, and the term of service of a 
large proportion of which, having expired, the Gov- 
ernour of Kentucky, the venerable and patriotic 
Shelby, being apprised of his situation, ordered 1200 
of the mihtia of that state, into service, under Gene- 
ral Green Clay, destined to reinforce Harrison's 
army. 

They rendezvoused at Cincinnati ; from whence 
early in April, they commenced their march, and ar- 
rived near fort Meigs, on the 4th of May, having as- 
certained that the fort was besieged by a large force 
of British and Indians, under General Proctor. — 
Proctor's force consisted of about 1000 British, and 
1200 Indians, with which he left Detroit, for fort 
Meigs, about the middle of April, with the expecta- 
tion of capturing the fort, before the garrison could 
be reinforced ; but heavy and incessant rains retard- 



120 LIFE OF 

iDg his operations, he did not open his batteries un- 
til the first of May. The cannonading from the ene- 
my's batteries was returned from the fort, and a brisk 
fire maintained on both sides from the first until the 
fifth of May, when a small party from General Clay's 
detachment reached the fort, and communicated the 
pleasing intelligence that the main body were at a 
short distance. On receiving this information, Gene- 
ral Harrison dispatched orders to Clay, to proceed 
with the force under his command down the river in 
his boats ; to land 800 men upon the left bank of the 
river, to charge the enemy's batteries and spike 
their cannon. The remainder of his force was to be 
landed on the right bank, and to be aided by a sortie 
from the garrison. The detachment on the left suc- 
ceeded in the attack ; the enemy's batteries were 
taken and their cannon spiked, yet these advantages 
were dearly purchased ; for, instead of crossing the 
river and returning to the fort, their ardour was so 
great, that they furiously pursued the enemy, who re- 
treated into the woods, where they were surrounded 
and the principal part of them made prisoners. The 
Indians succeeded also in possessing themselves of a 
considerable part of the baggage, which was in the 
boats ; but the disasters of this affair were not without 
their accompanying advantages. The Indians, in 
spite of the exertions of the British officers and of 
their chiefs, retired to their villages with their plun- 
der, which is their usual custom after any signal 



OLI\£R H. PERRY. 121 

aaccess. This circumstance, together with that of 
the reinforcements which the garrison had received 
from the residue of Clay's detachment, materially 
changed the aspect of affairs, and General Proctor, 
instead of continuing his offensive operations, be- 
came alarmed for his own security, and having dis- 
posed of his ordnance on board of a sloop, on the 
9th of May, made a precipitate retreat. 

The command of the lake, which the British pos- 
sessed at this period, gave great facility to their op- 
erations ; and subsequently to their retreat from fort 
Meigs, they made a number of movements indicating 
hostile designs upon that fort, and the forts at Low- 
er Sandusky, Cleveland and Eric. But no attack 
was made upon any of these forts, except that at 
Lower Sandusky, the result of which was so highly 
honourable to the gallant, youthful hero who com- 
manded it. 

The first of August, Proctor, with a force of 500 
regulars, and 7 or SCO Indians, appeared before that 
place, and having so disposed of his troops as to cut 
off the retreat of the garrison, he dispatched Colonel 
Elliot and Major Cham])er3, with a flag of truce, to 
demand the surrender of the fort; which was urged 
by a suggestion of the anxiety which he felt to spare 
the effusion of blood, and that, considering the char- 
acter of his forces, it would not probably be in his 
power to do this, if he was driven to the necessity of 
taking the place by storm. To this demand, ac- 
11 



122 LIFE Of 

companied with an implied threat of the garrison's 
being abandoned to the fury of the savages, in case 
of the capture of the fort by assault, its commander 
Major Croghan, a youth of 21 years of age, returned 
for answer, that he was determined to defend the 
place to the last extremity, and prepared to meet 
any force which they might have at their disposal. — 
On the return of the flag, a brisk fire was commenced 
upon the fort, and kept up with little intermission 
from the gun boats in the river, and a howitzer on 
shore. During the night, three sixes were placed 
within 250 yards of the pickets, from which a heavy 
cannonade upon the fort was began early in the morn- 
ing, but with little effect. In the afternoon. Major 
Croghan, perceiving that the enemy's fire was con- 
centrated against the north-west angle of the fort, 
was induced to believe that it was their intention to 
make a breach at that point, and then to attempt 
ihere to storm the works. To defeat the purposes 
of the enemy, he immediately employed what men 
could be spared, in strengthening that part of the 
fort, which was so effectually secured with bags of 
tlour, sand, and other articles, that the picketing sus- 
tained little or no injury from the enemy's fire. Yet 
this did not deter the enemy from their intended as- 
sault. Accordingly, about 500 men formed in 
close column, advanced to storm the works at the 
expected point, making at the same time, two feints 
on other parts of the fort. Of the 500 men, about 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 1 2o 

350 advanced against the north-west angle, which 
were not discovered until thej had approached with- 
in eighteen or twenty paces of the lines, being envel- 
oped in a cloud of smoke ; but they were no sooner 
observed, the men being all at their posts, than a 
well directed and galling fire was opened upon them, 
which threw the column into considerable confusion ; 
but being soon rallied, it advanced to the outer works 
and began to leap into the ditch. At this moment a 
raking and destructive fire of grape, from a six poun- 
der, which had previously been so mounted and pre- 
pared, as to admit of such a direction, was opened 
upon the assailants, and also a brisk fire of musketry, 
which cut them down in every direction, and threw 
them into such disorder and confusion, that they soon 
fled precipitately into the woods, leaving most of 
their killed and wounded, in and about the ditch.— 
The assault lasted nearly half an hour, during which 
the enemy's artillery, consisting of five sixes, and a 
howitzer, kept up an incessant fire upon the works, 
but with Uttle etlect. 

An instance of humanity occurred on this occasion 
too honourable to be omitted. During the assault, 
the enemy's wounded being observed in the ditch, 
writhing with pain, and burning with thirst, the sol- 
diers in the fort supplied them with water, by throw- 
ing down to them full canteens. The whole loss of 
the enemy, in this attack, in killed, wounded and 
prisoners, was silpposed to have exceeded one hum- 



124 



LIFE OF 



dred and fifty. There were Ibuiul in and about the 
rretich, either killed or wounded, one Lieutenant Co- 
lonel, orii^ Lieutenant, and fifty ninkand file. Those 
of the vvoJinded, who were able, made their escape, 
and many, both of killed and wounded, were carried 
off by the Indians, during the night. The gallant 
garrison which made this brave and almost unexam- 
pled defence, did not exceed IGO men. Their loss 
was one killed, and seven slightly wounded. The 
enemy, leaving behind a boat containing a considera- 
ble quantity of military stores and clothing, proceed- 
ed down the river, about three in the morning. 
Subsequently, several stand of arms, and several 
brace of pistols, were found near the works. 

General Proctor, a few days after this repulse, dis- 
patched a surgeon, with a flag, to assist in taking care 
of the wounded, and also to request, that such of the 
prisoners as were in a situation to be removed, might 
be allowed to return to Maiden, on his (Proctor's) 
parole of honour, that they should not serve, unless 
regularly exchanged. In reply, General Harrison 
stated that Major Croghan, under the influence of 
those humane principles whicli are held sacred in the 
American army, had caused all the care to be bestow- 
ed, and assistance to be rendered to the wounded 
prisoners, of which his situation would admit — that 
his hospital surgeon had, agreeably to directions, be- 
stowed upon them particular attention, and he felt 
autliorised to sav. that ail the assisfance that could 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 125 

be expected from surgical skill, would be alTorded 
them ; and that they had been liberally furnished 
with every article required by their situation, which 
the hospital stores could supply. As to the return 
of the prisoners to Maiden, he observed; that having 
applied to his government for orders relative to the 
disposal of the prisoners, he could not with propriety 
comply with his request of an immediate exchange ; 
hut added, that so far as it depended upon him, the 
course of treatment which had been began towards 
the prisoners, would be continued while they might 
remain in his possession. 

Such was the conduct of the Americans towards 
the prisoners, which the fortune of war had placed 
in their power. War in its mildest aspect, and con- 
ducted upon the most liberal principles, is a suffi- 
cient evil ; and it is due to civilization, and the light 
which science and philosophy have shed upon society, 
to smooth its harsh features, to soften its ferocious 
spirit, and to observe such belligerant principles as, 
whilst they give the greatest developement to the 
national energies, occasion the least violation of the 
rights of individuals. It was from these principles, 
held sacred by the Americans, that the wounded pris- 
oners at Sandusky experienced the greatest humani- 
ty. How different from the treatment which the 
American prisoners experienced at Frenchtown. — 
There, the surgeon, commissioned to aid suffering 
humanity, was treated with the greatest rudeness. 



126 LITE OF 

made a prisoner himself, and scarcely escaped with 
his life, one of his companions being actually killed. 
Here, the surgeon, in tlie same sacred cause, was 
treated with the utmost politeness, and only dismis- 
sed because his services were not wanted, the pris- 
oners having already received every attention. 
Here, the prisoners were supplied with water during 
the attack, and afterwards sacredly protected. 
There, the unfortunate American prisoners, compri- 
sing many of the noblest sons of Kentucky, were 
abandoned to the fury of the savages, and, to the 
^» British boast of victory, was added the frightfu;! 
YclJ of the savage war whoop." 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 127 



CHAPTER IV. 

Remarks on the vicissitudes of war — Perry arrives with his 
squadron off the mouth of Sandusky river — sails and reconnoi- 
tres the enemy at Maiden^ and relnrns to Put-in-Bay — re- 
iaarks on the repose which preceded the action, and its impor- 
tance—particular account of the action of the 10th September 
— some incidents and anecdotes— force of the two fleets — their 
loss — remains on the victory — the fleet concentrates the troops 
at Put'in-Bay — lands them below Maiden — the enemy evucu- 
ates that place — is pursued to Sandwich — thence to the Mora- 
vian town on the Thames — the decisive victory at that place, 
and capture of Proctor's army—humanity of the Americans 
— the troops return to Detroit — Indians sue for peace— provis- 
ional government established in the conquered district of Up- 
per Canada — Harrison and Perry proceed doivn the lake to 
Buffalo. 

The vicissitudes of human affairs are perhaps- 
no where so conspicuous as in the events of war. — 
Authentic history, which must ever remain an unim- 
peachable and faithful witness of human transactions, 
affords ample proof of this proposition. However 
great the combination of physical means, and the 
skill and experience in the direction of them, there 
can be no assurance of an uninterrupted course of 
success. When the means are vastly disproportion^ 
ate J the scales of power are often ballanced by ine- 



128 LIPE OF 

quality of skill, or of ardour. Climate, also, forms a 
permanent barrier to the extension of power, and 
frequently even the elements themselves seem to in- 
terpose to protect the weak from the strong. 

The dominioH of casualty is nowhere so firmly es- 
tablished, as in war ; and often a mere accident, 
which no experience could have pointed out, and no 
sagacity have foreseen, may give a turn to its events 
and decide the fate of battles, and of empires. But 
i^ we were to throw out of the scale all adventitious 
causes, and allow to superior means and superior 
skill, all that their greatest advocates claim for them, 
still the uncertainty of belligerant operations, is suffi- 
ciently conspicuous. What security, for the shortest 
period, is there, of the maintenace of superiority of 
means, or even of superior skill? The former is it- 
self subject to a thousand vicissitudes, and the latter 
suddenly acquired, if it is not suddenly lost ; and in- 
deed, in a war of any continuance, the skill employ- 
ed in it, tends to a common standard — the party that 
is without skill and experience, constantly profiting 
from the one that possesses them. Upon this prin- 
ciple, success is not only the precursor, but often the 
cause of defeat. Had it not been for the battle of 
Narva, in which Charles the XII, with 8000 Swedes 
conquered 80,000 Russians, this same hero would not 
probably have been defeated at Pultov/a. From the 
uncertainty of the events of war, we are admonished 
of the instability of human power, and of the folly 



OLIVER H. PERRY, i'29 

as well as criminality of using it for the purposes of 
tyranny, oppression and inhumanity. An abuse of 
power, which arises only from the fortune of war, 
evinces a weakness of head, as well as depravity of 
heart; and it is usually the case that it is speedily 
visited by retributive justice. 

From the commencement of hostilities, down to 
the gallant and successful defence of fort Sandusky, a 
period of nearly fourteen months, the events of the 
war upon the north-western frontier, had, with few 
exceptions, been peculiarly unfortunate and disas- 
trous. These disasters were all directly, or indi- 
rectly attributable to the extraordinary capitulation 
of General Hull ; which not only surrendered to the 
enemy an entire army, an important military post, 
and the territory of Michigan, but, what was infinite- 
ly more important, laid open a frontier of nearly a 
thousand miles in extent, being too a new country? 
without improvements, and but thinly settled, and 
contributed, with the exertions of the British, to call 
forth the " northern hive of Indians," whose savage 
ferocity was rendered more dreadful, as the destruc- 
tive implements and means of warfare, which have 
proceeded from civilization, were put into their 
liands. 

Until the severe repulse which the enemy sustain- 
ed at Sandusky, the " tide of war" had set strongly 
in their favour ; but from that period, the complex- 
ion of thinsjs was chansjed, and thev in their turn, 



130 LIFE OF 

were destined to experience the sad and distressing 
vicissitudes, inseparable fronrt a state of warfare. 

After the affair at Sandusky, General Harrison 
was engaged in making arrangements for an attack 
upon Maiden, in which he expected the co-opera- 
tion of Commodore Perry; and to make the neces- 
sary arrangements for which, Perry appeared with 
his squadron off the mouth of Sandusky river, as has 
already been stated. Here the General and the 
Commodore determined upon the course of fu- 
ture operations. It seems to have been resolved, 
that, instead of attempting the reduction of Maiden 
by a conjoint attack of the land and naval forces, it 
was expedient, first to attempt to obtain the command 
of the Lake ; and so far as it respected offensive op- 
erations, to risque the whole objects of the campaign 
upon the issue of a naval action. Without deciding 
from the result, which is too often a fallacious mode 
of testing the propriety of a measure, there can be no 
doubt as to the wisdom of tlie policy adopted on this 
accasion. It was evident that a naval victory, which 
should give us the command of the lake, would be 
likely to induce the enemy to evacuate Maiden, and 
afford the most important facilities to the operations 
of the troops ; and, on the other hand, it was scarce- 
ly less evident that if our troops had been landed at 
Maiden, for the reduction of that place, and (he ene- 
my should afterwards have acquired the mastery of 
the lake, th^y would not only have been checked in 



OLIVER H. PERRY. l31 

their offensive operation, but placed in a critical sit- 
uation. 

Having determined, before attempting any opera- 
tions of the troops, to decide who should be masters 
of the lake. Perry sailed from Sandusky with his fleet 
to Maiden, as previously stated, where the enemy's 
squadron lay, and attempted to draw them out to en- 
gage them ; but, being unable to do it, he retired to 
Put-in-Bay. We had proceeded with the Commo- 
dore thus far, previously to entering upon a detail of 
the events of war upon this frontier. The distance 
between Put-in-Bay and Maiden is only 35 miles ; so 
that the two squadrons and the two commanders re- 
mained within this short distance of each other, for 
several days previous to the action, in a state of in- 
activity and suspense. What must have been their 
reflections during this interval, we will not undertake 
to conjecture. There are few spectacles more sub- 
lime and none more impressive, than that of two hostile 
armies, or two hostile fleets, situated in the neigh- 
bourhood of each other, reposing only as preparato- 
ry to commencing the awful work of death. It is an 
awful pause, and a calm which appears most profound 
from the mind's associating it with what is to follow, 
just as the stillness is the greatest, which precedes 
the tempest. 

This scene is more sublime and impressive than 
that of the same hostile parties, when engaged in 
battle ; then other sensations are produced those 



13'2 LIFE OF 

of horror and sympathy — of hope and fear; all 
the passions being greatly agitated. But during the 
repose which precedes an engagennent, the mind is 
cool, unagitated and susceptible of deep impressions 
from the impending storm, upon which the fate of 
thousands of our fellow-men, and sometimes the des- 
tiny of nations may depend. If such woiild be the 
impressions of an observer, what must be the feel- 
ings of those who are about to engage themselves in 
the "bloody strife ?" And what must be the reflections 
of the commanders, who are in some measure ra 
ponsible for the result, and who have a personal stake 
greater than that of life — their reput^ition ? This con- 
test, in every point of view, must have been consid- 
ered as Oi the greatest importance. The dominion 
of the lake was depending upon it; the result of the 
campaign, and the security of on extensive frontier* 
But in addiiion to these objects, there was one v/hicji 
must have more deeply impressed the mind of Per- 
ry, and of the British commander. They knew that 
this would be the tirst trial of skill between the Brit- 
ish and Americans, in an engagement between two 
squadrons. Upon the ocean, several actions betwee. 
single frigates and ships had taken place, in all ot 
which, the skill and bravery of American seamen had 
appeared conspicuous. The capture of the Gur- 
vicre, the Macedonian, the Frolic, &c., had broken the 
nharm of British invincibility, as it respected engage- 
nrmts between single ships ; but it y^t remained to 



OLIVEia H. PERRY- l3:i 

be determined whether in an action between two 
fleets, the relative skill, seamanship and bravery of 
the two parties, would be the same as in actions of 
single vessels of war. The British commander had 
hi-s own, and his country's reputation to maintain ; 
and the American hero had his own, and, in some 
measure, his country's reputation to acquire, as it 
respected a naval action of this description. Such 
were the circumstances under which the two com- 
manders reposed, previously to the action of the 
iOth of September — -an action almost" unexampled in 
the annals of naval warfare. 

We extract the following circumstantial and mi- 
nute account of this action, which was drawn up by an 
eye-witness,* as being preferable to any thing which 
we could write upon the subject : 

" On the morning of the !Oth of September, at 
sunrise, the enemy were discovered bearing down 
from Maiden, for the evident purpose of attacking 
our squadron, then at anchor in Put-in-Bay. Not a 
moment was to be lost. Perry's squadron immedi- 
ately got under way, and stood out to meet the Brit 
ish fleet, which at this time had the weather gage. 
At 10 A. M. the wind shifted from S. W. to S. E. 
which brought our squadron to windward. The 
wind was light— the day beautiful. Not a cloud ob- 
scured the horizon. The line was formed at 11, and 

*The editor of the Museum. 
12 



134 LIFE or 

Commodore Perrj caused an elegant flag, which he 
had privately prepared, to be hoisted at the mast 
head of the Lawrence. On this flag was painted, in 
characters legible to the whole fleet, the dying words 
o{ the immortal Lawrence : — " don't give up the 
SHIP." Its effect is not to be described — every 
heart was electrified. The crews cheered — the ex- 
hilarating can was passed. Both fleets appeared ea- 
ger for the conflict, on the result of which so much 
depended. At 15 minutes before 12, the Detroit, 
the headmost ship of the enemy, opened upon the 
Lawrence, which for ten minutes, was obliged to 
sustain a well directed and heavy fire from the ene- 
my's two large ships, without being able to return it 
with carronades; at 5 minutes before 12, the Law- 
rence opened upon the enemy. The other vessels 
were ordered to support her, but the wind at this 
time was too light to enable them to come up. Ev- 
ery brace and bowline of the Lawrence being soon 
shot away, she became unmanageable, and in this 
situation, sustained the action upwards of two hours, 
within canister distance, until every gun was ren- 
dered useless, and but a small part of her crew left 
unhurt upon deck. 

" At half past two the wind increased, and en- 
abled the Niagara to come into close action— the 
gun-boats took a nearer position. Commodore Per- 
ry left his ship in charge of Lieutenant Yarnel. and 



OLIVER H. PERRY, 135 

went on board the Niagara.* Just as he reached 
that vessel, the flag of the Lawrence came down. 
The crisis had arrived. Captain Elliot at this mo- 
ment anticipated the wishes of the Commodore, by 
volunteering his services to bring the schooners into 
close action. 

" At forty-five minutes past two, the signal was 
made for close action. The Niagara being very lit- 
tle injured, and her crew fresh, the Commodore de- 
termined to pass through the enemy's line. He ac- 
cordingly bore up and passed ahead of the Detroit, 
Queen Charlotte, and Lady Prevost, pouring a ter- 
rible raking fire into them from the starboard guns, 
and on the Chippewa and Little Belt, from the lar- 
board side, at half pistol shot distance. The small 



*This circumstance isau extraordinary evidence of presence of 
mind, and of cool intrepidity ; and probably decided the fate of 
the action. A crisis had arrived, and the scale which at that 
time was made to preponderate, conld hardly fail of bearing 
down its opposite. The nnlnjnred condition of the Niagara and 
the small vessels, and their crews being fresh, when brought into' 
close action, gave them in some measure, the character of a re- 
inforcement, and that, at the very point of time which was to de- 
cide the result of the action. Perry entered the boat in the 
most intrepid and gallant manner; and although imminently ex , 
posed, several broadsides being leveled at the boat, and sliow- 
ers of musketry from three oi" the enemy's vessels, which were 
within musket shot, poured upon it, he remained standing in ihe 
boat's stern, until absolutely pulled down by the crew. Those 
of the crew of the Lawrence, who remained behind, eyed him 



136 LIFE OF 

vessels at this time having got within grape and can- 
ister distance, kept up a well directed and destruc- 
tive fire. The action now raged with the greatest 
i'ury. The Queen Charlotte, having lost her com- 
mander, and several of her principal officers, in a mo- 
ment of confusion, got foul of the Detroit. In this 
situation, the enemy in their turn had to sustain a tre- 
mendous fire, without the power of returning it with 
much effect. The carnage was horrible. The flags 
of the Detroit, Queen Chaxlottee, and Lady Prevost, 
were struck in rapid succession. The brig Hunter, 
and schooner Chippewa, were soon compelled to 
follow the example. The Little Belt attempted to 
escape to Maiden, but she was pursued by two of 
the gun-boats, and surrendered, about three miles 
distant from the scene of action. 

with a breathless solicitncle, ia this critical scene of peril, the 
balls striking around hira in every direction, and beheld, with a 
transport of joy, his flag hoisted at theraast head of the Niagara, 
'i his clrc iinistatice of Periy's leaving his ship, which had be- 
come disabled, in a boat, during the rage and confusion of the 
action, and hoisting his flag onboard of another ship, has, we 
believe, few examples. There is, however, one very distin- 
guished one. In the action off the mouth of the Texel, during the 
second Duti h war, in 1673. between the famous Dutch Admirals 
De Riiyter and Tromp, and the English Admirals Prince Rupert 
and Sprague ; the latter left his ship twice during the action, 
and the last time was drowned, a shot having struck his boat as 
he wa;. passinr to hoist his flag on board of a third ship, the two 
i-jit lu V. iiich he had fought, having been cut to pieces. 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 137 

*^ The writer of this account, in company with five 
others, arrived at the head of Put-in-Bay island, on 
the evening of the 9th, and had a view of the action 
at the distance of only ten miles. The spectacle 
was truly grand and awful. The firing was inces- 
sant, for the space of three hours, and continued at 
short intervals, forty-five minutes longer. In less 
than one hour after the battle began, most of the ves- 
sels of both fleets were enveloped in a cloud of smoke, 
which rendered the issue of the action uncertain, 
till the next morning, when we visited the fleet in 
the harbour, on the opposite side of the island. The 
reader will easily judge of our solicitude to learn the 
result. There is no sentiment more painful than 
suspense, when it is excited by the uncertain issue of 
an event like this. 

'' If the wind had continued at S. W. it was the 
intention of Admiral Barclay to have boarded our 
squadron. For this purpose he had taken on board 
of his fleet about 200 of the famous 41st regiment. 
They acted as marines, and fought bravely ; but 
nearly two thirds of them were either killed or 
wounded. 

" The carnage on board the prizes was prodigious. 
They must have lost 200 in killed, besides wounded. 
The sides of the Detroit and Queen Charlotte, were 
shattered from bow to stern. There was scarcely 
room to place one's hand on their larboard sides, 
without touching the impression of a shot. A great 

*12- 



138 LIFE OF 

many balls, canister and grape, were found lodged 
in their bulwarks, which were too thick to be pene- 
trated by our carronades, unless within pistol shot 
distance. Their masts were so much shattered 
that they fell overboard soon after they got iato 
the bay. 

'• The loss of the Americans was severe, particu- 
larly on board the Lawrence. When her flag was 
struck, she had but nine men fit for duty, remaining 
on deck. Her sides were completely riddled by the 
shot from the long guns of the British ships. Her 
deck, the morning after the conflict, when I first 
went on board, exhibited a scene that defies descrip- 
tion — for it was literally covered with blood, which 
still adhered to the plank in clots — brains, hair, and 
fragments of bones were still sticking to the rigging 
and sides. The surgeons were still busy v/ith the 
wounded. Enough! horror appalled my senses. 

" Among the wounded were several brave fellows, 
each of whom had lost a leg or an arm. They ap- 
peared cheerful, and expressed a hope that they had 
done their duty. Rome and Sparta would have been 
proud of these heroes. 

" It would be invidious to particularize instances Of 
individual merit, where every one so nobly perform- 
ed his part. Of the nine seamen remaining unhurt 
at the time the Lawrence struck her flag, five were 
immediately promoted, for their unshaken firmness, 
in such a trying situation. The most of the&e 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 139 

had been in the actions with the Guerriere and 
Java. 

^' Every officer of the Lawrence, except the Com- 
modore and his Uttle brother, a promising youth, 13 
years old, were either killed or wounded. 

" The efficacy of the gun-boats was fully proved 
in this action, and the sterns of all the prizes bear am- 
ple testimony of the fact. They took raking posi- 
tions, and galled the enemy severely. The Lady 
Prevost lost twelve men before either of the brigs 
fired on her. Their fire was quick and precise. Let 
us hear the enemy. The general order of Adjutant 
General Baynes, contains the following words : " His 
(Perry's) numerous gun boats, (four) which had pro- 
ved the greatest annoyance during the action, were 
all uninjured." 

" The undaunted bravery of Admiral Barclay, en- 
titled him to a better fate. To the loss of the day, 
was superadded grievous and dangerous wounds. — 
He had before lost an arm ; it was now his hard 
fortune to lose the other, by a shot which carried 
away the blade of the right shoulder ; a canister shot 
made a violent contusion in his hip. His wounds 
were for some days considered mortal. Every pos- 
sible attention was paid to his situation. When 
Commodore Perry sailed for Buffalo, he was so far 
recovered, that he took passage on board our fleet. 
The fleet touched at Erie. The citizens saw the af- 
fecting spectacle of Harrison and Perry, leading the 



140 LIFE OF ' 

wounded British hero, still unable to walk without 
help, from the beach to their lodgings. 

" On board the Detroit, twenty-four hours after 
her surrender, were found, snugly stowed away in 
the hold, two Indian Chiefs, who had the courage 
to go on board at Maiden, for the purpose of acting 
as sharp shooters, to kill o'lv officers. One had the 
courage to ascend into the round top, and discharge 
his piece, but the whizzing of shot, splinters, and bits 
of rigging, soon made the place too warm for him — 
He descended faster than he went up. At the mo- 
ment he reached the deck, the fragments ^bf a sea- 
man's head struck his comrade's face, and covered it 
with blood and brains. He vociferated the savage 
interjection " quoW and both sought safety below. 

" The British officers had domesticated a bear at 
Maiden. Bruin accompanied his comrades to bat- 
tle — was on the deck of the Detroit during the en- 
gagement, and escaped unhurt. 

" The killed of both fleets were thrown overboard 
as fast as they fell. Several were washed ashore up- 
on the island and the main, during the gales that suc- 
ceeded the action. 

" Commodore Perry treated the prisoners with 
humanity and indulgence. Several Canadians, heav- 
ing wives at Maiden, were pernjitted to visit their 
families on parole. 

" The British were superior in the length and num- 
her of Iheir guns, as well as in the number of men. 



OLIVER H. PERRY. I4't' 

The American fleet was manned with a motley set 
of beings, Europeans, Africans, Americans, from ev- 
ery part of the United States. Full one fourth were 
blacks. I saw one Russian, who could not speak a 
word of English. They were brave — and who could 
be otherwise under the command of Perry ? 

" The day after the battle, the funeral obsequies 
of the American and British officers, who had fallen in 
the action, were performed in an appropriate and af- 
fecting manner. An opening on the margin of the 
bay, was selected for the interment of the bodies. — 
The cr6ws of both fleets attended. The weather 
was fine. The elements seemed to participate in the 
solemnities of the day, for every breeze was hushed? 
and not a wave ruflled the surface of the water. The 
procession of boats — the neat appearance of the of- 
ficers and men — the music — the slow and regular mo- 
tion of the oars, striking in exact time with the notes 
of the solemn dirge — the mournful waving of the 
flags — the sound of the minute guns from the diflfer- 
ent ships in the harbour — the wild and solitary aspect 
of the place — the stillness of nature, gave to the 
scene an air of melancholy grandeur, better felt than 
described. All acknowledged its influence — all were 
sensibly affected. What a contrast did it exhibit to 
the terrible conflict of the preceding day ! Then the 
people of two squadrons were engaged in the deadly 
strife of arms. Now they associated, like brothers^ 



142 LITE OF 

to pay the last sad tribute of respect to the dead of 
both nations. 

" Five officers were interred, two American and 
three British. Lieutenant Brooks and Midshipman 
Laub, oir the Lawrence j Captain Finnis, and Lieu- 
tenant Stoke, of the Queen Charlotte, and Lieuten- 
ant Garland, of the Detroit. The graves are but a 
few paces from the beach, and the future traveller of 
cither nation, will find no memento whereby he may 
distinguish the American from the British hero. 

" The marines of our fleet were highlj complimen- 
ted by the Commodore, for their good conduct ; al- 
though it was the first time most of them had seen a 
square rigged vessel." 

From ihe general description of an engagement, 
we can form but an imperfect idea of the particular 
merit or services of individuals ; nor does such a de- 
scription present any distinct images to the mind. — 
All general ideas are more or less vague and indis- 
tinct, and consequently are incapable of deeply inter- 
esting the feelings. We read the account of an ar- 
my's being annihilated, and of a ship's being sunk, 
with comparatively little emotion ; but who can pe- 
ruse the minute detail of the sufferings and perils of 
an individual, without the most Hvely sympathy and 
concern. In contemplating action, or suffering, 
our ideas must be faint and indistinct, where we 
have not a clear, precise, and definite notion of the 
agent who acts or suffers.— Hence, in speaking of 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 143 

the achievements or the sufferings of an army or of a 
fleet, our views can be distinct only so far as they 
are particular. The general and complex idea of 
an army, or any other body of men, cannot be entire- 
ly abstracted from the particular ideas of the indi- 
viduals composing it ; and the mind, when contem- 
plating their acts or sufferings, constantly exerts it- 
self to render its general and confused ideas, more 
particular and distinct, or in other words, to ascer- 
tain whRtjndividuals performed and suffered. This 
gives uajptinct perceptions, and interests our feel- 
ings. Tne exploits of an army cannot excite emula- 
tion, nor their sufferings sympathy ; but those of 
their commander, or any other individual may. — 
From these considerations, we shall detail some dis- 
tinct and insulated facts, connected with this memo- 
rable action, which may give a more lively and per- 
spicuous idea of the character and spirit of it — of 
the services and merit of Perry, and other individu- 
als, and of the general scene of desperate fighting, 
peril and distress. 

The carnage on board the Lawrence being dread- 
ful, many men were swept away from the side of 
the Commodore. An incident of this kind evinced 
the coolness and presence of mind which prevailed 
among the officers. The second Lieutenant of the 
Lawrence, standing close by Perry, was struck in 
the breast by a chain shot, which, having passed 
through the bulwark, was so far spent as to have no 



144 LIFE GF 

other effect than to knock him down. The shot 
lodged in the bosom of his waistcoat. He fell, stun- 
ned by the violence of the blow. Perry approach- 
ing him, and perceiving no blood, nor marks of a 
wound, observed that he thought he could not be 
hurt. Upon this the Lieutenant, having revived, 
pulled the shot out of his bosom, and exclaiming 
" no sir, but this is my shot," thrust it with great 
sangfroid., into his pocket. 

Lieutenant Yarnell, of the Lawrence, was distin- 
guished throughout the action, for his cool intrepidi- 
ty. He was dressed hke a common seaman, and had 
a red bandanna handkerchief tied round his neck, 
and another round his head, having been applied to 
staunch two wounds which he had received. He had 
also been wounded by a splinter in the nose, which 
was terribly swollen. From these several wounds 
the blood was trinkling down his face, and dropping 
on his garments, giving him a peculiarly hideous and 
frightful appearance. In this plight, looking like the 
very genius of carnage, when the action raged with 
the greatest fury, he approached the Commodore, 
and informed him that all the officers of his division 
were killed. Perry ordered others in their place. 
Soon after, the valiant Lieutenant returned with the 
same sad tidings that all his officers were killed or 
wounded. " Then sir," said Perry, " you must 
endeavour to make out yourself— I have no more 
-to furnish you." 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 145 

During the action, Perry observed that a brave 
and favourite sailor, then captain of a gun, found 
great difficulty in managing it, the forelock having 
been broken. Perry approaching him in his usual 
affable and encouraging manner, enquired what was 
the matter. The honest tar exhibiting signs of just 
vexation, turned round and exclaimed, " Sir, my gun 
behaves shamefully — shamefully." Then he level- 
ed his piece, and having taken aim, raised himself 
up in a fine martial style, as if wishing to appear to 
the best, advantage in the presence of the Commo- 
dore, when he was suddenly struck in the breast by 
a cannon ball, which passed through him, and he 
fell dead without a groan. 

Soon after Perry had entered on board the Niaga- 
ra, whilst standing on the quarter deck, a sailor who 
commanded one of the guns having had all of his 
men shot down, approached Perry, and laying his 
hands on his shoulders, exclaimed, '* for God's sake, 
sir, give me some more men." This fact is a strik- 
ing illustration of the spirit and animation which pre- 
vailed among all ranks, and that both body and mind 
were so engaged in the conflict, and intent on victo- 
ry, as to have lost all sense of personal danger. This 
valiant tar, although all his men had been killed or 
wounded before his eyes, and by his very side, does 
not appear to have a thought about his own danger — 
He only thought of more men to man his gun, that he 
might continue to annoy the enemy. 
13 



146 LIFE OF 

At the time Perry, with the Niagara, passed the 
enemy's line, giving a broadside to the Lady Prevost, 
Lieutenant Buchan, who commanded that vessel, 
was shot through the face by a musket ball. The 
two vessels being within half pistol shot distance, ev- 
ery thing which occurred on board either, could be 
distinctly seen from the other. The Lady Prevost 
being terribly cut to pieces, and unable to withstand 
the desperate fire of the Niagara, the men all ran be- 
low, excepting her commander, who was observed 
on deck, leaning on the companion way, with his 
face on his hand, gazing with fixed stare, and appar- 
ent amazement, at his enemies. Perry immediately 
ordered the firing to cease. It was afterwards ascer- 
tained that this strange conduct of Lieutenant Bu- 
«:han, who was a brave officer, and distinguished in 
the battle of the Nile, was occasioned by sudden de- 
rangement, which his wound had produced. 

" While Perry was engaged at close quarters, in 
the Niagara, Lieutenant Turner, a fine, bold, young 
sailor, who commanded the brig Caledonia of three 
guns, spreading every sail, endeavoured to get into 
action. His fore sail interfered between him and the 
enemy ; but rather than take in an inch of canvass, 
he ordered his men to fire through it. Seeing the 
Commodore engaged in the thickest of the fight, he 
proposed to the commander of another small vessel, 
to board the Detroit ; the other, however, prudently 
declined the rash, but gallant proposal." 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 147 

" The affecting fate of Lieutenant Brooks, of the 
marines, presents an awful picture of the scenes 
which the warrior witnesses in battle — his favourite 
companions suddenly cut down before his eyes — 
those dreadful transitions from the flush of health 
and the vivacity of youth, to the ghastliness of agon- 
ized death — from the cheering and the smile, to the 
shriek and the convulsion. Brooks was a gay, anima- 
ted young officer, remarkable for his personal beau- 
ty. In the midst of the engagement, he accosted 
Perry in a spirited tone, with a smile on his counte- 
nance, and was making some observations about the 
enemy, when a cannon ball struck him in the thigh 
and dashed him to the opposite side of the deck. — 
The blow shattered him dreadfully, and the sudden 
anguish forced from him the most thrilling exclama- 
tions. He implored Perry to shoot him, and put an 
end to his torture ; the latter directed some of the 
marines to carry him below, and consign him to the 
surgeon. The scene was rendered more affecting 
by the conduct of a httle mulatto boy, of twelve years 
of age, a favourite of Brooks. He was carrying cart- 
ridges to one of the guns, but seeing his master fall, he 
threw himself on the deck with the most frantic aes- 
ticulations, and piercing cries, exclaiming that his 
master was killed ; nor could he be appeased, until 
orders were given to carry him below, when he im- 
mediately returned to carrying cartridges. Mr. 
Hamilton, the purser, who had worked at a gun like 



148 LIFE OF 

a common sailor, being wounded, was carried below 
and laid on the same mattress with Brooks. The 
wound of the latter was staunched, and he lay com- 
posed, calmly awaiting his approaching death. Ham- 
ilton observes that he never looked so perfectly 
beautiful as at this moment, when the anguish of his 
wound had imparted a feverish flush and lustre to 
his usually blooming countenance. He asked with 
great solicitude, after Perry, and how the battle 
went. He gave a few directions respecting his own 
affairs, and while his voice was growing weaker and 
weaker, recommended his little mulatto to kind- 
ness and protection, directing into whose hands he 
should be placed. While he was yet talking. Ham- 
ton's attention was attracted by some circumstances 
which occasioned him to look another way for a mo- 
ment — the voice of his companion died upon his ear 
and when he turned his face again, poor Brooks had 
expired."* 

There is one circumstance which was related by 
Perry, that deserves particular mention. It has 
something in it which does not belong to common 
life, and which has the appearance of inspiration. 

" When in the sweeping havoc which was some- 
times made, a number of men were shot away from 
around a gun, the survivors looked silently around to 
Perry — and then stepped into their places. When 

*Analeclic Magazine. 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 149 

he looked at the poor fellows that lay wounded and 

weltering on the deck, he always found their faces 
turned towards him, and their eyes fixed on his coun- 

tenace» It is impossible for words to heighten the 
simple and affecting eloquence of this anecdote. It 
speakes volumes in praise of the heroism of the com- 
mander, and the confidence and affection of his 
men." 

During this dreadful conflict, which thickened 
with perils, and was characterised by a carnage un- 
exampled, there was but a single moment when the 
cool intrepidity and the self command of Perry, expe- 
rienced any thing like a shock. This was on seeing V 
his brother, a youth of but thirteen, who served on 
board as a midshipman, knocked down by a ham- 
mock, which was driven in by a cannon ball. The 
first impression of the Commodore was, that he was 
killed, which gave him a momentary agony, that 
disconcerted the calmness of his mind. But the 
sprightly youth immediately rising up unhurt and un- 
dismayed, relieved the mind of the Commodore, 
which, being occupied with ihe engagement, and in* 
tent on victory, no more thought of the danger to 
which the youth was exposed. 

This splendid victory, so complete and honourable 
in its cfiaracter, and so important in its consequen- 
ces, was announced by Commodore Perry, in a spir- 
it of humility and moderation, which always accom- 
pany real merit and true greatness, in his first let- 
*J3 



150 LIFE OP 

ter* to the Secretary of the navy, he keeps himself, 
and, in a measure, the squadron under his command, 
out of view ; his language being, that "it has pleas- 
ed the Almighty to give to the arms of the United 
States, a signal victory over their enemies on this 
lake." But his laconic letter! to General Harrison, 
on the occasion, is perhaps, a more striking evidence 
of a mind capable of great and heroic achievements. 
The emphatic language, " we have met the ene- 
my AND THEY ARE our's," could Only havc proceed- 
ed from the hero of Erie. It reminds us of the cele- 

^'The following is a transcript of this letter : 

U. S. brig Niagara, off th^ western Lister, fiead of) 
Lake Erie, Sept. Wth, 1813, 4 o'clock, P. M. \ 
Sir — It has pleased the Almighty to give to the arms of the 
United States a signal victory over their enemies on this lake. 
The British squadron, consisting of two ships, two brigs, one 
schooner, and one sloop, have this moment surrendered to the 
ibrce under my command, after a sharp conflict. 
I have the honour to be, sir, 

Your obedient servant, 

O. II. PERRY. 
The Hon, William Jones, 7 
Secretary of the Na'^y. \ 

jThe following is a copy of this letter t 

U S brig Niagara, off the western Lister, head ofl 
Lake Erie, Sept. ]Oth, 1813, 4 o'clock, P. Ml^ J 
Dear General — We have met the enemy, and they are ours. 
Two stjips, two brigs, one schooner, and one sloop. 
Y^ufs^ with greet respect and esteem, 

O, H, PERRY. 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 151 

brated words of Caesar, veni, vidi, ria.J These 
letters have a simiHtude to Nelson's, after the victo- 
ry of the Nile, which, it has been said, was adopted 
as a model ; but if so, it was a noble one, and the oc- 
casion amply justified the use of it. 

On the 13th, Perry addressed two letters to the 
Secretary of the navy ; one containing a detailed ac- 
count of the action, in which he spoke in the highest 
terms, of his gallant officers and men, both sailors 
and marines ; and the other containing some partic- 
ulars as to the vessels captured, and the prisoners ta- 
ken, and requesting instructions as to the disposition 
of the same. Accompanying these letters was a 
statement of the force of the two squadrons, and of 
the killed and wounded, on board of Perry's squad- 
ron. 

The British squadron consisted of the following 
vessels and number of guns : 

Ship Detroit, 1 9 guns, 1 on a pivot, and 

[2 howitzers. 

Queen Charlotte, 17 do., 1 on a pivot. 

Schooner Lady Prevost, 13 do., 1 do. 

Brig Hunter, 10 do. 

Sloop Little Belt, 3 do. 

Schooner Chipewa, 1 do., and 2 swivels. 

63 guns. 
The Detroit was a new ship, very strongly built 
and mounted long 24's, 18's and 12's. The Queen 
|I came— J saw— I coDq«ered, 



151 



LIFE OF 



Charlotte was a much superior vessel to what had 
been represented, and the Lady Prevost a large and 
fine schooner. 

Perry's squadron consisted of the following vessels^ 
and number of guns : 

20 guns. 
20 do. 
3 do. 



Brig Lawrence, 
Niagara, 
Caledonia, 
Schooner Ariel, 



Scorpion, 
Somers, 
Tigress, 
Porcupine, 
Sloop Trip, 



4 do., one burst early in 
[the action* 
2 do. 

2 do. and 2 swivels. 
1 do. 
1 do. 
1 do. 



54 guns. 
The exact number of the men, which the enemy 
had on board of the squadron, could not be ascer- 
tained ; but it was thought by Commodore Perry, to 
exceed his number, by nearly one hundred. Nei- 
ther was the loss of the enemy known with certain- 
ty, but it was evidently very great, both in killed 
and wounded. Captain Barclay, senior officer and 
commander of the squadron, was severely wounded, 
and the Captain and first Lieutenant of the Detroit, 
and the first Lieutenant of the Queen Charlotte, were 
killed. 



OLIVER H. PERRY, 16^ 

The following is a statement of the killed and 
wounded on board of Perry's squadron : 

Lawrence, 22 killed 61 wounded— total 83 



Niagara, 


2 


do. 


25 


do. 


27 


Caledonia, 






3 


do. 


3 


Somers, 






2 


do. 


2 


Trip, 






2 


do. 


2 


Scorpion, 






2 


do. 


2 


Ariel, 


1 


do. 


3 


do. 


4 



27 98 Total 123 

The prisoners were landed at Sandusky, and Per- 
ry requested General Harrison to have them march- 
ed to Chilicothe, where they were to remain until 
the pleasure of the Secretary of the Navy, respecting 
them, could be known. The wounded of the fleet 
were taken to Erie, on board the Lawrence, which 
had been so cut up in the action, that it became ne- 
cessary she should go into a safb harbour ; and Lieu- 
tenant Yarnell, who was dispatched with her, was or- 
dered to dismantle and get her over the bar at Erie, 
as soon as possible. The two ships captured, the 
Detroit and Queen Charlotte were so much injured 
in the action, that on the 13th, whilst at anchor at 
Put-in-Bay, they lost their masts, and it was found 
necessary to haul them into the inner bay, and moor 
them for their security. 

It would be useless to make any remarks upon this 
victory, A simple narration of the facts is a sufii- 



154 LIFE OF 

cient commentary, and the best eulogium upon the 
gallant and illustrious Commodore, and the brave of- 
ficers and men, by whose valour it was achieved. — 
From the statement of facts which has been made, it 
appears that in almost every point of view, the ene- 
my had the advantage. Their numerical force ex- 
ceeded ours by nearly one hundred ; and a greater 
proportion of them were experienced seamen and 
marines. The American fleet was built, equipped 
ahd manned in about three months, and consequent- 
ly the crews of the vessels hastily collected. They 
were a mixed, and apparently, an incongruous set of 
beings, comprising Americans from every part of 
the Union, Europeans, and blacks.* They had not 
been together long enough to become acquainted 

*This fact is deserving of consideration. It has been stated 
that one fourth part of Perry's men were blacks ; but supposing 
that a much less proportion consisted of blacks, it is evident 
from the result of the action, that they mu^t have been an effi- 
cient force, for to believe the contrary, woiiM be to suppose that 
the fleet was but partially manned, as, including ail, there was 
no excess, but on the contrary, a less number of men, by near 
one hundred, than there was on board the British fleet. It will 
not be contended that there was any thing peculiar in this ser- 
vice, and if the blacks were active and brave on this occasion* 
it is pretty good evidence that Ihey can be usefully employed 
in naval service. Indeed, we believe it has generally been 
found that the blacks make good seamen. If this is correct, the 
free blacks iu the United States, would constitute a most exten- 
sive resource for manning a uavy, and maintaining a maritime 
power. 



OLIVER H. PERRtY. 155 

with each other, or the service. When the fleet 
was first got over the bar at Erie, there was not 
more than half sailors enough to man it, and it could 
not have sailed, had not a number of Pennsylvania 
militia volunteered their services. 

Although sugh was the character and condition of 
the sailors, the marines were still less qualified for 
their situation, so far as that depends upon experi- 
ence and discipline, most of them having never be- 
fore seen a square rigged vessel. Nearly all of them 
were volunteers from the Pennsylvania militia, on 
service at Erie, commanded by Colonel Rees Hill, 
and Kentuckians, of which about seventy entered on 
board the fleet as volunteers, at Sandusky. The 
former were raised in the counties of Centre, Hun- 
tingdon, and Mifllin. Such were the men who, un- 
der Perry, conquered the self-styled " lords of the 
ocean," on the element which they have claimed as 
their own, and broke, in the first action of the kind 
which ever occurred between the two nations, the 
charm of British invincibility. What they wanted 
in experience, they made up in bravery. Yet brave 
as they were, it required, under the disadvantageous 
circumstances attending them, the cool intrepidity, 
the consummate skill, and the exalted genius of Per- 
ry, to lead them to victory and glory. 

But not only did the enemy have the advantage as 
to the number and condition of the men by whom 
their fleet was manned, but likewise as to the fleet 



156 LIFE OP 

itself. As appears by the statement, they had the 
greatest number of guns, and they also had an ad- 
vantage from their being of greater length. At the 
commencement of the action, the wind was in favour 
of the enemy, enabling them to choose theirown po- 
sition, which, from the great length of their guns, 
gave them great advantage. But notwithstand- 
ing all these superior advantages possessed by the 
British — in the language of the immortal Perry, 
" it pleased the Almighty io give to the arms of 
the United States, a signal victory over its enemies 
on this lake." 

The naval force of the enemy having become 
" owr5," and having obtained the complete command 
of the Lake, General Harrison and Commodore 
Perry lost no time in pursuing the ulterior objects of 
the campaign. The contemplated attack upon Mai- 
den was now greatly facilitated, and arrangements 
were immediately made for carrying it into effect. — 
As soon as the vessels were at liberty, having landed 
the prisoners and wounded, they were employed in 
concentrating the troops at Put-in-Bay, by transport- 
ing them from fort Meigs and Portage river, to that 
place. This was accomplished about the 20th of 
September, and on the 22d Commodore Perry land- 
ed about 1200 of the troops on a small island about 
twelve miles from Maiden, which the next day were 
embarked and landed upon the Canada shore, a little 
/below Maiden. In one hour after the troops had 



OLIVER H. PERRV. ijl 

disembarked, General Harrison, perceving that the 
enenay had evacuated it, took possession of the town 
of Amherstburgh, General Proctor had fled with 
his forces, to Sandwich, having previously burnt fort 
Maiden, the navy-yard, barracks, and pubhc store- 
houses. He v/as immediately pursued by General 
Harrison, to Sandwich, but before he arrived, Proc- 
tor had retreated, pursuing the rout to the Moravian 
town, on the Thames, which is about eighty miles 
from Detroit, leaving the Michigan territory to revert 
to its rightful possesFors. On the 2d of October, 
Harrison, accompanied by Perry, who had volun- 
teered as his Aid-de-Camp, left Sandwich, in pursuit 
ofProctor, with a force of nearly 3,500 men, consisting 
of 140 regulars, Colonel Johnson's mounted regiment 
and the Kentucky volunteers, under the venerable 
Governor Shelby. On the evening of the same day, 
the army reached the river Thames, and the next 
morning crossed upon a bridge which Proctor had 
neglected to destroy. 

The Thames discharges its waters into Lake St, 
Clair, about twenty -five miles above Detroit. It be- 
ing supposed that the enemy would be likely to leave 
behind detachments to destroy the bridges over the 
three branches of the Thames, v/hich they had cros- 
sed. General Harrison, with a view to save these 
bridges, if possible, put himself at the head of the 
mounted regiment, and pushed forward with all 
possible speed. At the first bridge, he found and 
14 



15G LIFE OF 

captured a Lieutenant of dragoons, and eleven pri- 
vates, who had been left by the enemy to destroy it. 
The second bridge having been but partially demol- 
ished, was soon repaired, and the army crossed up- 
on it on the evening of the 3d. The baggage which 
had thus far been brought by boats, under the pro- 
tection of gun boats, it was found necessary to leave 
at this place under a strong guard, the river above 
being narrow, and having high and woody banks. 
One more unfordabie branch of the Thames remain- 
ed to be passed, at which the army arrived on the 
4th, and discovered that the bridge near its mouth, 
and also one about a mile above, had been taken up 
by the Indians. The Indians, to the number of sev- 
eral hundred, had collected, and attempted to dis- 
pute the passage of the troops, and obstruct the re- 
pair of the bridge 5 but a well directed fire from two 
six pounders, soon obliged them to retire, and in two 
hours, the bridge was repaired and the troops cros- 
sed, just in time to save a house to which the enemy 
had set fire, and a considerable quantity of mus- 
kets stored in it. One of the British vessels was al- 
so found on fire above the bridge ; and here it was 
ascertained that the enemy were but a few miles 
ahead. 

The enemy seemed determined to destroy what 
they could not keep. About four miles above the 
bridge, two more vessels were found in flames, and 
also a large distillery, containg ordnance and milita- 



OLIVER H. i'ERRV. I o'J 

ry iLores to an immense amount- The fire had pro- 
gressed so far, that it was impossible to extinguish it > 
and of the pubhc property, two mounted twenty-four 
pounders, and a considerable quantity of balls and 
shelisj only, were saved. At this place the army 
staid on the night of the 4th, and early the next 
morning, the troops were again put in motion, and 
advanced with all possible speed, it being known 
that the enemy were but a short distance ahead.-— 
In the afternoon, the advance guard having come up 
with the enemy, the officer commanding, sent to in- 
form General Harrison that his progress was stopped 
by the enemy, who were formed in a strong position, 
across the line of march. — To understand the posi' 
tion of the enemy, it is necessary to be acquainted 
with the topography of the country. Upon the bor- 
der of the Thames, there was a lofty beech forest 
having very little underbrush. This forest extend, 
ed back from the river, two or three hundred yards, 
to a large and impervious swamp, which ranged for 
several miles, parallel with the river. The road run 
through the forest, near the bank of the river. The 
line of the enemy was formed across this strip of 
land, their left resting on the river, supported by ar- 
tillery, and their right on the swamp, covered by the 
Indians. 

" The American troops were now formed in order 
of battle. General Trotter's brigade formed the 
front line, his rii<ht upon the road, and his left upon 



iCO LIFE OF 

the swamp, with General Desha's divisioOj consisting 
of two brigades, formed en potence,^ upon bis left. 
General King's brigade formed a second line, 150 
yards in the rear of Trotter's, and Chile's brigade, a 
corps of reserve in the rear. Trotter's, King's and 
Chile's brigades, formed the command of Major Gen- 
eral Harrison. Each brigade averaged nearly 500 
men. The crotchet formed by Desha's division, was 
occupied by Shelby, the Governour of Kentucky, a 
veteran of sixty-six years of age, who had distinguish- 
ed himself in the revolutionary war, at King's moun- 
tain. The regular troops, who now amounted to 
only 120 men, occupied in columns of sections of 
four, the small space between the road and the river, 
for the purpose of seizing the enemy's artillery, and 
ten or twelve friendly Indians, were directed to move 
under the bank. Harrison had directed Johnson's 
mounted infantry to form in two lines, opposite to 
the enemy, and when the infantry advanced to take 
ground to the left, and, forming upon that flank, to 
endeavour to turn the right of the Indians. It was 
perceived, however, that it would be impracticable 
for them to do ajiy thing on horseback in that quar- 
ter, owing to the thickness of the woods, and the 
swampiness of the ground. A measure altogether 

"^riie troops arc Ibimed cnpoicnce, by brrakinga straight line 
nnd liuovvJDg acertaiii [)roportion of it cither forward or back- 
Wrii fi, froin the right or left, according to circnmstaiices, for the 
purpose of securing that Ilae, D'jane's Mllitanj Bktionary 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 161 

novel, was determined on, which was crowned with 
the most signal success. The American backwoods- 
men, ride better in the woods than any other peo- 
ple. A musket, or rifle is no impediment to them, 
being accustomed to carry them on horseback from 
their earliest youth. A charge was determined on., 
and accordingly the regiment was drawn up in close 
column, with its right at the distance of tifty yards 
from the road, that it might, in some measure, be 
protected by the trees from the artillery, and the left 
upon the swamp. 

" The army in this order, had moved on but a short 
distance, when the mounted men received the fire 
of the British line, and were instantly ordered to 
charge. Tlie horses in front of the column, recoil- 
ed from the tire ; but on receiving a second ilre, the 
column got into motion, and immediately, at full 
speed, broke through the enemy with irresistable 
force. In one minute the contest was over in front* 
The British officers seeing no hope of reducing their 
disordered ranks to order, the mounted infantry 
wheeling upon them, and pouring in a destructive 
tire, immediately surrendered. Only three of the 
Americans were wounded in this charge. 

'' Upon the American left, however, the contest 
with the Indians was more severe. Colonel John- 
son, who commanded on that flank of his regiment, 
received a most galhng fire from them, which was 
returned with great elFect. The Indians sjtili furthci- 

*i4 



3 62 LIFE or 

to the left, advanced and fell in with the front line 
of the infantry, near its junction with the division en 
potence, and for a moment, made an impression upon 
it. Governor Shelby, however, who, as already sta- 
ted, was stationed near this point, brought up a re- 
giment to its support. The enemy now received a 
severe fire in front, and a part of the mounted men 
having gained their rear, they immediately retreated 
with precipitation."* 

General Harrison, with his Aids, and the gallant 
Perry, who served as a volunteer Aid-de-Camp, and 
Brigadier General Cass, who, having no command, 
tendered his services to the commanding General, 
placed himself at the head of the front line of Infan- 
try, to direct the movements of the cavalry, and 
give them the necessary support. 

Those British officers and soldiers, with the ex- 
ception of Proctor, and the few that escaped with 
him, who, for fifteen months, had harrassed the north- 
western frontier, and allied themselves with the sav- 
ages, and who, if they had not instigated, had witnes- 
sed the massacres upon the river Raisin, and upon 
the Miami, after the defeat of Colonel Dudley, and 
the numerous and horrible outrages upon the peacea- 
ble and defenceless inhabitants of the frontiers, had 
now, from the fortune of war, fallen into the hands 
of that enemy upon whom they had inflicted so many 
deep wounds, and offered so many indignities. The 

^History of the Waf, 



OLIVER H. PERRV. 163 

period had now arrived that was to decide, whether 
the reproach which Brock had thrown upon the 
Kentuckians, of their being a " ferocious and mor- 
tal foe, using the same mode of warfare as the sava- 
ges," and that the employment of them, in the Amer- 
ican service, would justify the British in employing 
the Indians, was founded in truth ; or, whether it 
was a base aspersion of a brave, a generous, and a 
magnanimous people. The men under whose eyes 
the murders upon the river Raisin aad the Miami, 
had been committed, were now completely in the hands 
of an army, composed almost entirely of Kentuckians, 
many of whom had lost brothers, relatives or friends 
in those shocking scenes. Nor were the instruments 
of vengeance wanting. The savages who had sued 
to the Americans for mercy, would gladly have shewn 
their claims to it, by reacting upon the Thames, the 
bloody drama of the river Raisin. A single sign of 
approbation, would have poured forth their fury up- 
on the inhabitants of an extensive and flourishing 
province, which the fortune of war had opened to 
our arms. But how did the Kentuckians act on this 
occasion. Did they follow the example which had 
been set them ? Did they attempt to avenge the 
innocent blood of their brethren, which had been 
shed, if not by the prisoners in their hands, under 
their eyes, and by the Indians with whom they were 
associated ? Did they extend unto their enemies 
when in their power, that measure of justice, or 



164 LIFE OP 

rather of outrage, which their countrymen, in a sim- 
ilar situation, had experienced from them ? No : a 
sense of retributive justice, was lost in the nobler 
feelings of humanity. Those, who a moment before, 
had, associated with savages, been engaged in war- 
fare, and who were known to have been the abet- 
tors o( those horrid barbarities, which had deluged 
our borders with innocent blood, the instant they 
ceased resistance, ceased to be regarded as enemies. 
From an exalted spirit of magnanimity, all injuries 
were forgotten. The only character in which they 
were now viewed, was that of prisoners ofzuar. Not 
only were their persons and property sacredly pro- 
tected, but they experienced the most honourable 
and kind treatment — Not a word, nor a look escaped 
from their captors, calculated to wound or insult 
their feelings. 

The result of this victory, was six hundred and 
one prisoners, of the British regulars, twelve killed 
and twenty-two wounded. General Proctor, with 
about forty dragoons, and a number of mounted In- 
dians, made his ecape by the fleetness of their hor- 
ses. The Indians sustained the severest loss. 
Thirty-three were found dead uJ)on the field of ac- 
tion ; besides which many were killed whilst on the 
retreat — Six pieces of brass ordnance were taken 
of which three were trophies of the revolutionary 
war, being the same that were surrendered by Gen- 
era! Hull at Detroit, and were originally taken from 



OLIVER H. PERRV. iUo 

the British at Saratoga and Yorktown. Besides these, 
two twenty-four pounders were taken the day before 
the action, and several others were discovered in the 
river in a situation to be saved. Small arms, to the 
number of more than 5000, were either taken or de- 
stroyed by the enemy, nearly all of which had origi- 
nally belonged to the Americans, and were captured 
by the British at Detroit, Frenchtown, and at Colo- 
nel Dudley's defeat, on the Miami. 

The number of Indians engaged in this action 
could not be ascertained, but it was thought to have 
been considerably more than one thousand. A Brit- 
ish officer of high rank, informed one of Harrison's 
Aids, that at the time the American army landed near 
Amherstburgh, Proctor had more than 3000 Indian 
warriors at his disposal, but asserted that the great- 
er part of them had left him previous to the action. 

Among the Indians who fell, was the celebrated 
warrior and Chief, Tecumseh. Ke was a distin- 
guished and influential Chief, possessing, in an emi- 
nent degree, all the attributes of a natural greatness, 
both physical and intellectual. His independent and 
unsubdued spirit, spurned the advantages and the re- 
straints of civilization, and led him to view the Amer- 
icans with suspicion and hostility. Though as un- 
cultivated as his native forests, he disclosed a mind 
vigorous, energetic, and determined — fixed in its 
purposes — ample in resources, and steady and per- 
severing in the pursuit of them. Conscious of his 



IQ^ LIFE OF ' 

superiority, he caused it to be felt by others, and hi i 
deportment was rudely dignified and commanding. 
Holding in the highest veneration the customs and 
traditions of his countrymen — having a high sense of 
their independence and rights ; and considering them 
as jeopardized by the rapid inroads of civilization, he 
became implacable in his hostility to the United 
States. — At the commencement of the war, he exert- 
ed himself to arouse the spirit of war and hostility 
among the different tribes, and to induce them to 
take hold of the tomahawk, and strike the Americans ; 
and unfortunately his exertions were but too success- 
ful. He infused his own soul into the young men 
and warriors, and the pipe of peace, soon yielded to 
the ferocious war-yell. How far he was stimulated 
to exert himself, by the British, may be conjectured, 
from the fact that, at the time of his fail, he held 
from the British government a Brigadier General's 
commission. But he was not like some great men 
in civilized nations, who have had sufficient iiifluence 
ta induce their country to engage in war, and then 
are the first to shrink from its responsibilities, and to 
flee from its dangers. His spirit of hostility was not 
greater than his undaunted bravery. In a speech 
which he made to " his Father,*" at Amherstburgh, 
previously to the enemy's evacuating that place, he 
shewed that he scorned " to seek safety by flight," 

* Genera! Proctor 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 167 

and explicitly charged proctor with cowardice — of 
not daring to stay and meet the enemy himself, and 
of depriving his " red children" of the means of de- 
fending themselves. He concludes his speech as 
follows : 

"Father! — You have got the arms and ammuni- 
tion which our great father sent for his red children 5 
if you have an idea of going away, give them tons, 
and you may go and welcome, for us. Our lives are 
in the hands of the great spirit. We are determined 
to defend our lands, and if it be his will, we wish to 
leave our bones upon them." 

But destiny ordered that the bones of this gallant 
chieftain should be left upon the Thames. 

We cannot forbear to subjoin the following lines 
upon this distinguished warrior. They are extracted 
from a western paper : 

TECUMSEH. 

Aloft on his courser, his phiraes waving high, 
Rage brighlning each feature, fury lighting his eye, 
Teeumsehcame dashing o'er the blood crimson'd field, 
Determin'd to conquer — with life hut to yield ! 
Wbeu the voice of a foeman thus rung on his ear : 
" Tecumseh ! Tecumseh ! thy hour draweth near; 
*♦ Yon high rolling planet, mild beaming so bright, 
•' To you will no more shew the rays of his light ; 
'* In Fates dreaded balance, your crimes tiave been weigh'd, 
'• And to day you're consigu'd to futurity's shade. 
'■* Columbia's war horses, shall prance, and shall neigh, 
" O'er the plains where your boues will sun-bleachen lay. 



168 LirE OF 

•' Stern warrior ! no more shall the war-whooping sounds 

'* Make your chieftains and warriors encircle yon ronnd ; 

*' No more will your yelling, jonr countrymen rouse, 

•' On the ranks of your foeraen courageous to charge ; 

" No more will your hand cause the infant to bleed, 

*• No more to the charge will yon spur your train'd steed ; 

*♦ No more on the blasts will be wafted your yell ; 

" No more to our foes, our scalps will you sell ; 

<^ At midnight, no more you'll your war hatchet steep, 

" In the blood of the brave, as unconscious they sleep ! 

♦* The star of your glory is now near its tall ; 

*♦ Your race is rmi out, *' Death hath woven your pall !" 

** Hark ! now you are summon'd— you fall,--yes, 'tis o'er !" 

The voice instant oeas'd, and Tecumseh's no more. 

It is admitted that the American forces considera- 
bly exceeded those of the enemy ; but when it is 
considered that the latter had chosen their own po- 
gition — that they had taken one peculiarly favoura- 
ble for defence, effectually securing their flanks, it 
being impossible to turn them, and that the Ameri- 
cans could present a line no more extended than that 
of the enemy, which was too limited to admit of the 
active employment of all their troops ; and when it 
is further considered, that the troops were almost en- 
tirely militia, it must be conceded that this victory 
reflected great honour upon the national arms, and 
upon the troops by whom it was achieved. 

The action, and the movements which preceded 
it, afford ample testimony of the judgment, and cool 
intrepidity of General Harrison ; — and indeed, all the 
f^vents of his campaign, support these characteristics : 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 16^ 

the disasters attending it, having in no instance been 
imputable to him. 

There are, perhaps, on record, few instances of 
such cool and steady intrepidity, on the part of miU- 
tia, or a force of this description, as was displayed on 
this occasion. General Harrison speaks in the high- 
est terms of praise, of the officers and troops. The 
gallant Colonel Johnson was engaged where the con- 
test raged with the greatest severity, and the numer- 
ous wounds which he received, bore ample testimony 
of his valour. 

In speaking of the conduct of the officers, Harri- 
son says, " I am at a loss how to mention that of Gov- 
ernour Shelby, being convinced that no eulogium of 
mine, can reach his merit. The Governour of an in- 
dependent state, greatly my superior in years, in ex- 
perience, and in military character, he placed him- 
self under my command, and was not more remarka- 
ble for his zeal and activity, than for the promptitude 
and cheerfulness with which he obeyed my orders.'' 
If every state had had a Shelby for its Chief Magis- 
trate, it would have given a different spirit to the war, 
and a different character to its operations ; Canada 
would have been conquered, and the American ea- 
gle waved triumphant upon the ramparts of Quebec. 

Harrison did not forget the hero of Erie. " I have 

already stated" he observes, " that Commodore 

Perry and General Cass, assisted me in forming the 

troops for action : the former is an oificer of the 

15 



170 LIFE OP 

highest merit, and the appearance of the brave Com- 
modore cheered and animated every breast." 

The victory of the Thames was not more honour- 
able in its character, than important in its consequen- 
ces. It terminated the war on the north-western 
frontier, which, during fifteen months, had been 
drenched in blood, and stained with crimes ; thou- 
sands of the most patriotic sons of the west, having 
fallen victims to its ravages and disasters. The sav- 
age war-yell was heard no more ; and the frightful 
tomahawk no longer reeked with the blood of inno- 
cence, infancy and age. The British found their In- 
dian allies faithful only in prosperity. 

After the fall of their power upon the Lake, which 
was followed by the Am.erican troops taking posses- 
sion of Amherstburgh and Sandwich, and reoccupy- 
ing the territory of Michigan, a number of the hostile 
tribes sued for peace, and brought in hostages for 
their good behaviour ; and whilst Harrison was in 
pursuit of the British army, other tribes followed 
their example, and brought hostages to Detroit. — 
Their pledges and proposals for peace, were accep- 
ted by General M'Auther, who commanded at that 
place on condition that " they should take hold of the 
same tomahawk with the Americans, and strike all 
who are or may be enemies of the United States, 
whether British or Indians." 

The army, after the action, returned to Detroit, 
where, on the 16th of October, Gen. Harrison issu- 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 171 

ed a proclamation, giving publicity to the armistice 
which had been concluded with the Indian tribes ; 
stating that they had been permitted to retire to their 
hunting grounds, and to remain unmolested as long 
as they behaved themselves peaceably. The inhab- 
itants of the frontier settlements were Required to ab- 
stain from all acts of hostihtj, or engaging in any 
expedition against the persons and property of these 
misguided people. The next day, a proclamation 
was issued by Harrison and Perry, dated at Sand- 
wich, stating that the combined operations of the 
land and naval forces under their command, having 
captured or destroyed those of the enemy, in the 
district of Upper Canada ; and the said district being 
in quiet possession of the American troops, it be- 
came necessary to provide for the government there- 
of, which could only be done under authority of the 
United States. The laws of the province, and the 
rights and privileges of the inhabitants, were recog- 
nized, and all magistrates, and other civil officers, 
were admitted to resume the exercise of their func- 
tions, on taking an oath to be faithful to the govern-= 
ment of the United States, as long as they might 
continue in possession of this section of the province^ 
The authority of militia commissions was suspended, 
and all officers required to give their parole to the 
officer appointed to administer the government. 

Harrison and Perry left Detroit in the Ariel, and 
arrived at Erie on the 22d of October. Here they 



Wi^ LIFE OP 

were received with every demonstration of joy and 
admiration ; the discharge of cannon, illuminations, 
^c. They were hailed as the " delivers of the fron- 
tiers." From Erie, with a part of the squadron, 
consisting of the Niagara, Caledonia, Hunter, Ariel, 
Lady Prevost, Trip and Little Belt, having about 
2000 troops on board, they sailed for Buffalo, where 
they arrived on the 24th. Agreeably to the orders 
of the Secretary of war, Harrison proceeded with the 
troops from Buffalo to Sackett's Harbour. 

The prisoners taken on the Thames, were march- 
ed to Chilicothe, where they arrived on the 9th of 
November, under the care of Major Croghan, the he- 
ro of Sandusky, and joined their countrymen captur- 
ed by Perry, with the British fleeto 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 173 



CHAPTER V, 



Remarks on the consequences of the victory of hake Erie — con- 
dition of the north-western frontier at the time Perry arrived 
there — its situation when he left it — the scene of the victory-^ 
is calculated to swell its importance^ and perpetuate its fame — 
the great valley of the St. Latvrence — importance of the acqui- 
sitionofthe Canadas — ample general view of the vast chain of 
water communication which drains this great valley — partic- 
ular description of Lake Erie and iti, borders, which were the 
scenes of the war — the Indian country in the state of Ohio — 
general view of the territory of Michigan, and that vast region 
west of lake Michigan, and south of lake Superior — general 
view of the north-western districts in Upper Canada, the scene 
of the war in that province. 

We have now completed a succinct account of 
the events of the war on the north-western frontier, 
from which the importance of the victory upon lake 
Erie, appears more distinct and conspicuous. If 
there is any one individual to whom this country is 
more indebted than any other, for the success of its 
arms during the late war; for the security of its in- 
habitants ; the protection of the frontiers ; for pre- 
serving the integrity of its soil, and for shedding a 
lustre upon its reputation — it is Oliver Hazard 
Perry. When he arrived at Erie, the aspect of af- 
fairs, in that quarter, was inauspicious and gloomy. 
Owing to numerous disasters. General Harrison's 
*15 



174 LIFE OF 

army had been only able to act upon the defensive, 
and was but just relieved from a critical situation at 
fort Meigs, where it had been besieged by General 
Proctor. Instead of any thing having been done to 
check or weaken the spirit of hostility, of the nume- 
rous hordes of savages, which were spread over the 
frontier, the repeated disasters that had occured, had 
served to stimulate their thirst for blood, to increase 
their propensities for depredation, and to embolden 
them in violence and outrage. Whilst this ferocious 
foe, whose mode of warfare regards neither age, nor 
sex, stimulated by success, and rendered more dread- 
ful from the implements and munitions of war, with 
which the British had supplied them, hung, like a 
portentous cloud, threatening to discharge its elec- 
tric fire, over the frontier, there could be no security 
for the inhabitants. Knowing the ferocious charac- 
ter of the enemy, and having been harrassed for near- 
ly twelve months, apprehension and alarm pervaded 
the whole north-western border. 

Those who were enjoying the blessings of peace 
and security, and who felt no apprehension of the 
sanctuary of their homes being invaded by the hand 
of violence, had httle idea of the condition, and httle 
aympathy for the sufferings of the inhabitants of this 
devoted frontier. To the dreariness of a wilderness, 
was added the gloom of the desolation of war — to 
the darkness of night, the horrors of apprehended in- 
vasion — to the crashing of the forest, the clangovir of 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 175 

arms — and to the bowlings of the blasts, the frightful 
yell of the savage war-whoop. 

A state of conscious insecurity, is, of all others, 
the most afflicting. It darkens the face of day, and 
thickens the gloom of night. Night, which brings to 
others repose, and soothes the cares and anxieties of 
the day, is to them a season of increased anxiety and 
watchfulness. It was so upon this devoted frontier. 
The hardy settler, whose own hands, after years of 
toil, had erected a cottage for the comfort of his fam- 
ily, dreaded the approach of night, as only affording 
a cover to Indian depredations, and the inroads of 
rapine and murder. He trembled every moment, 
lest the humble sanctuary of his home should be in- 
vaded, by the hand of savage violence, and his cot- 
tage laid in ruins by the fire brand and the scalping 
knife. Every movement he imagined the hostile tread 
of the invader — and every noise the ferocious yell 
of the savage. His wife startled at every breeze, 
and, shrieking aghast, clasped her infant to her 
breast. 

In the territory of Michigan, the condition of the 
inhabitants was, if possible, more calamitous and dis- 
tressing. This was a dismembered limb of the Un- 
ion, in which the authority of the United States had 
ceased. Its capital was occupied by the British, 
and its borders were infested with savages. Detroit 
was the general rendezvous of the hostile Indians, 
and the depot of their trophies of war. Here their 



176 LIFE OF 

schemes of rapine and murder were planned, and 
here the scalps of our countrymen were brought. 
Here the Indian war dance was exhibited, and the 
war song sung, which reverberated through the sur- 
rounding wilderness. Here the savage seized the 
tomahawk, and sallied forth to steep it in the blood 
of the peaceable and defenceless inhabitants ; of 
helpless infancy and age. This was a grand mart of 
crimes, where bargains for scalps, and for rapine and 
massacre, were made — the source of those streams 
of blood which crimsoned the banks of the river 
Raisin, and deluged the frontier. The inhabitants, 
necessarily abandoned by their own country, were 
entirely at the mercy of the British and Indians, and 
exposed to every outrage, both upon their persons 
and property, which a savage and ferocious foe, 
flushed with victory, and thirsting for blood, were 
disposed to perpetrate. In the mean time, the ene- 
my had the absolute dominion of the lake, which af- 
forded great facility, and gave great celerity to their 
predatory incursions. 

Such was the condition of the north-western fron- 
tier, when it was first visited by Perry. How strik- 
ing the contrast at the time he left it. His genius 
had illumined the horizon of war, so long overcast 
with clouds and darkness, and the splendour of his 
achievements had spread a radiance through the 
gloom which once beclouded the northwestern bor- 
der. The enemy who, for fifteen months, had har- 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 177 

rassed the frontier, was not then to be found. Per- 
ry had met them, and " they were ours." The 
yell of the savage was heard no more, and no more 
were the blood-trails of his victims discovered. No 
more the hardy settler was disturbed in his repose, 
from an apprehension that his humble cottage might 
be desolated by the savage hand of the midnight in- 
vader ; and no more the affrighted mother, with dis- 
tracted looks, and an agonizing heart, clasped her 
infant to her breast. 

These scenes were past. Peace, so long exiled, 
had revisited the frontier, and spread its mantle of 
security over the inhabitants. Michigan was rein- 
stated, and its government restored ; the hostile In- 
dian tribes had sued for peace ; delivered up hos- 
tages for their fideHty, and offered to take hold of the 
same tomahawk, with the Americans, and strike 
their enemies, whether British or Indians. The 
land forces of the British had been captured, and an 
entire district of the Upper Province, was in the qui- 
et possession of the Americans, and under a provis- 
ional government, established by the conquerors ; 
and fort Maiden, which had long been a nursery of 
Indian hostility and outrage, had been demolished by 
the hand of those by whom it had been garrisoned 
and maintained, for purposes so revolting to hmani- 
ty. The roar of cannon, and the discharge of arms, 
had ceased. The lake, no longer agitated by hos- 
tile fleets, had resumed its stillness— and the wilder- 



178 LIFE OP 

ness its solitude. Such were the auspicious results 
of the memorable victory of the 10th of September. 
Weil might this victory give to the head that plan- 
ned, and the hand that achieved it, the appellations 
of " the hero of Erie, '^'^ and the " deliverer ofthefron' 
tier ;" and to these might have been added that of 
" -peace-maker P for Perry made peace for an Exten- 
sive section of the country, which wanted it more 
than any other, having suffered most from the exis- 
tence of hostilities, and which was then bleeding 
with the wounds of war. 

But there are other circumstances which combin- 
ed to swell the importance of this victory, and to ex- 
tend its fame to the latest record of time. These 
circumstances, it is true, have no merit in themselves, 
yet their eiTect will not be the less lasting and con- 
spicuous. The immense sheet of water, which was 
the scene of this action, is situated in the heart of 
an extensive interior country, and is a central link in 
a vast chain of water communication, consisting of 
immense lakes or inland seas, outlets and rivers, 
which have no example upon this globe. These 
lakes, during a succession of ages, had been embos- 
omed by impenetrable forests, and their shores were 
only visited by wild beasts, and the ferocious savage. 
A dead silence had long reigned over them, and their 
surface was never ploughed by the bai-ks of human 
invention, or freighted by the products of civilization. 
Upon lake Erie, this silence had recently been bro- 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 179 

fcen in upon ; its shores were becoming the abodes 
of civilization, and its waters beginning lo be naviga- 
ted. But until the late war, no hostile armaments 
had appeared upon its surface, nor the roar of can- 
non disturbed its peaceful waves. Perry's victory 
was not only the first ever obtained by the Ameri» 
cans over the British, in an engagement between 
squadrons, but it was the first naval action ever 
fought upon Lake Erie. 

"Were any thing wanting to perpetuate the fame 
of this victory, it would be sufficiently memorable 
from the scene where it was fought. The late war 
was distinguished by new and peculiar characteris- 
tics. Naval warfare has been carried into the inte- 
rior of a continent, and navies, as if by magic, 
launched from the forest. The bosoms of peaceful 
lakes, which but a short time since, were scarcely 
navigated by man, except to be skimmed by the light 
canoe of the savage, have all at once been ploughed 
by hostile ships. The vast silence that had reigned 
for ages on those mighty waters, was broken by the 
thunder of artillery, and the affrighted savage stared 
with amazement from his covert, at the sudden appa- 
rition of a sea-fight, amid the solitude of the wilder- 
ness. In future times, when the shores of Erie shall 
hum with busy population ; when towns and cities 
shall brighten, where now extend the dark and tang- 
led forests ; when ports shall spread their arms, and 
lofty barks shall ride, where now the canoe is fasten- 



180 LIFE or 

ed to the stake ; when the present age shall have 
grown into venerable antiquity, and the mists of fa- 
ble begin to gather round its history ; then will the in- 
habitants of the borders of Erie look back to this bat- 
tle we record, as one of the romantic achievements 
of the days of yore. It will stand first on the page of 
their local legends, and in the marvelous tales of the 
borders. The fisherman, as he loiters along the 
beach, will point to some half buried cannon, corro- 
ded with the rust of time, and will speak of ocean 
warriors, that came from the shores of the Atlantic ; 
while the boatman, as he trims bis sail to the breeze, 
will chant, in rude ditties, the name of Perry — the 
early hero of Erie."* 

As the perpetuity of the fame of this victory de- 
pends, in a great measure, upon the scene where it 
was achieved, and the importance of it, upon the 
consequences which ensued, upon the American 
frontier, and in a district of Upper Canada, bordering 
upon lake Erie, it is deemed proper to give some ac- 
count of a country with which the name of our hero is 
identified. It is also proper that the history of Per- 
ry should comprise a description of that section of 
his country which was the scene of his glory, and 
which has derived such celebrity from the splendour 
of his achievements. And as a topographical de- 
scription, confined to the district forming the borders 

. *Ana!^elic 3Iagiizinc. 



OLIVER H. PERHY. l&l. 

of lake Erie, would be too insulated to afford much 
interest, we shall precede that, by a general view of 
the vast extent of country, which has been called the 
great valley of the St. Lawrence. 

The valley of St. Lawrence, comprises that por- 
tion of the interior of North America, which is wa- 
tered by the river St. Lawrence, its numerous trib- 
utary streams, and the great interior lakes, and their 
various contributary waters. This vast region, em- 
braces the extensive provinces of Upper and Lower 
Canada, the north-western section of the state of 
Vermont, a large portion of the fertile and populous 
country, comprised within the western district of the 
state of New- York, a small part of the north-western 
section of Pennsylvania, nearly one third part of the 
state of Ohio, embracing that extensive district com- 
monly called New-Connecticut, and tlie beautiful 
and fertile country bordering on the Maumce, and 
its borders, the Indian title to which has recently 
"been acquired, some part of the state of Indiana, the 
extensive peninsula of Michigan, and the vast region 
west of lake Michigan and south of lake Superior.— 
The immense territory embraced within these lim- 
its, and which comprises an area, exclusive of its 
waters, of more than 400,000 square miles, is un- 
doubtedly one of the most magniiicent regions of this 
globe. It presents features, which, for their vastness 
«nd siiblimity, stand alone. No other portion of the 



1G 



182 



LIFE OF 



earth affords any parallel, or even similitude.* A 
chain of interior water communication of between 
two and three thousand miles in extent, affording, 
with few obstructions, navigable waters for the en- 
tire distance, and comprising, in the whole, an area 
of eighty-seven thousand, two hundred square miles. 
The greater proportion of U 's extensive chain of 



*The following table exhibits the area of the different sections 
of country, drained by the St. Lawrence. 

TABLE 

Of the suj^erjicies, drained by the valley of the St. Lawrence river. 



"^ a. 



Region lying N. W. of Lake Superior, 
do. N. E. of do. 

North of Lake Huron, and west of the sour- 
ces of the Oltawas river, - - - - 

Peninsula between Lakes Huron, Erie, and 
Ontario, --------- 

North-west of St. Lawrence, below the sour- 
ces of the Ottawas river, - - - ^ 

Total area N. W. of St. Lawrence, 

Region N. E. of the St. Lawerence, from 
its mouth to that of the llichelieu, 

Triang* included between Black, St. Law- 
rence, and Richelieu rivers, - - - 

South of Lake Ontario, west of Black river, 

South-east and south of Lake Erie, and east 
of Maumee river, . - • 

Peninsula of IMichigau, _ - - 

West of Lake Micbigan, and south of Lake 
Superior, - - - - 

Total sor.th-easf and ?o!tth-wc-?t. - I 



300 
400 

200 

200 

700 



500 

230 
200 

300 

250 

400 



M 

{30 
80 



200 

80 

220 



50 

50 
80 

30 

150 

120 



r<5 O «) 



24,000 
32,000 

40,000 

16,000 

154,000 



266,000 



25,000 

16,500 
16,000 

9,000 
37,500 

48,000 



1 52,000 



418,000 



[Darbij'si Tour, 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 18S 

water, consists of immense lakes, which might, with 
propriety, be denominated inland seas ; some of them 
having a coast of nearly 1200 miles, and the whole 
united, about 4000 miles. 

In contemplating these vast lakes, it is to be re- 
membered that they consist oi fresh zuater. By what 
process, or unknown laws of nature, the Almighty 
preserves these immense bodies of fresh water* in a 
state of purity, is one of the many phenomena, which 
defy the researches of man, and humble the pride of 
philosophy. These lakes, their outlets, and the 
river St. Lawrence, which rolls their vast aggregate 
waters to the ocean, are the reservoirs of the waters 
of the immense territory forming what is called the 
great valley of the St. Lawrence. Innumerable fine 
streams, which intersect and fertilize this beautiful 
country, some of which are navigable for vessels for 
considerable distance, and many of them extensively 
for boats, mingle their own, with the limpid waters 
of the great lakes. It can hardly be necessary to 
add, that these immense waters unite the most ex- 
tensive advantages for internal commercial inter- 
course, and, with some improvements, for external 
trade ; and that they afford unrivalled facilities for 
manufactures. 

This country, which, as to its waters, stands alone 



*It has been thought by Fomc, that the watirs of Jhesc lakes 
wern originally salt. 



ind unhvalied, ts not behind any otlici-, as lo ita ch«. 
iuatC) its soil, and the beauty of its landscapes. This, 
instead of being a ''region of frost," as many sup- 
pose, IS, with the exception of the lower regions of 
the St. Lawrence, remarkably temperate and mild, 
for a country of its latitude. In many parts, spring 
is ushered in with surprising suddenness, and is very 
short, being soon followed by the heat of summer.* 

As it respects a salubrious atmosphere, and health- 
fulness, no country, in so unimproved a state, is su- 
perior to this. Its surface is generally level, or mode- 
rately uneven, w^ith a prevailing inclination towards 
the great channel of water communication ; and it 
presents some of the most charming and interesting 
landscapes in the world — the most picturesque and 
beautiful scener}% The soil of this great valley of 
the St. Lawrence, is generally strong and fertile, 
with some scctioi.s peculiarly fat and luxuriant ; 
and possesses ample resources for all the great in- 
terests of agriculture. That a country, possessing 
such superior advantages, is capable of sustaining a 
dense population, is most apparent. 

Were we to indulge the imagination, in drawing 
ai-idc the veil of futurity, and carrying us forward but 
a single century, what a chain of cities, towns, ham- 
lets and villages, should we behold brightening the 
shores of the lakes, the St. Lawrence, and their 
tributary wpJ-^^rs^ v/here now stand dreary and entan- 

^Dajbv's Tour. 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 1^5 

gled forests. What a multitude of vessels, freighted 
with the products of civilization, and contributing to 
the wants and conveniences of a vast population, en- 
livening the bosom of those vast lakes, which a few 
years since, were only skimmed by the rude canoe 
of the savage — What extensive cultivated fields, 
clothed in rich and varied verdure, the offspring of 
the arts and agriculture, where now the gloomy wil- 
derness holds its dominion — What swarms of human 
beings, all busily engaged in the various pursuits of 
civilization, and enjoying the rich fruition of their 
industry and wealth, where now the solitary Indian 
roams ; and what animating notes of human voices, 
modulated by art, and softened by education, will 
have succeeded to the frightful howling of wild beasts, 
and the ferocious yell of the savage. This is fiction, 
but it will soon become fact. ^Vaat is here prophe- 
cy, will at no distant day be history ; and when that 
period arrives, how many voices will repeat the prais- 
es of the '^ hero of E»ie," who, when their country 
was in its infancy, and its inhabitants few and feeble, 
delivered Ihem from the hands of their enemie?. 

The population of (he great valley of the St. Lawr- 
ence, is already considerable, although most of it is 
an entire v/ilderness. It may be safely estimated at 
nearly a million of souls, considerably more than half 
of which, are within the United States ; and from 
the preferable location, and superior advantages 
which the country, upon the American side possess ^ 

*]6 



186 LIFE OF 

cs, and from the superior political privileges which 
the free institutions of this country present to the 
emigrant, there can be no doubt but that the increase 
o[ population will be immensely greater upon the 
American border, than upon the British. 

^Notwithstanding all that may be done by internal 
improvements, to direct the course of trade, still it is 
scarcely to be doubted but that, ultimately, the great 
natural channel of water communication, will give 
a direction to the intercourse between this country 
and the Atlantic sea board ; and that its immense 
products will be borne upon the waters of the St. 
Lawrence, to their destined markets. The lower re- 
gions of the St. Lawrence, including the flourishing 
cities of Quebec and Montreal, and the islands in 
the vicinity, will always possess superior advantages 
for commerce and the tisheries ; which interests will 
occupy a great proportion of industry, thereby di- 
verting it from agriculture 5 and the soil on the low- 
er borders of the St. Lawrence, being rather unin- 
viting, this region will be likely to be dependant for 
provisions upon the upper country, and consequent- 
ly will afford a good market for their immense sup- 
plies, which will be exchanged for the products of 
ihe commerce and fisheries of the lower country. 

From these considerations, as well as from those 
«f a political nature, the annexation of the Canadas 
to the United States, which would give us the whole 
of the great valley of the St. Lawrence, and the en- 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 187 

tire controiil of the extensive water communication 
which forms its natural outlet to the ocean, must al- 
ways be an object of primary importance ; and ought 
never for a moment to be lost sight of by the coun- 
cils of the Republic. 

Our extended and extending Republic can never 
be considered as complete and coasolidated, until 
this object is accomplished. Was there nothing else 
to awake our solicitude, to arouse our fears, and pro- 
voke our pride, with relation to this subject, the 
great angle, or peninsula of Upper Canada, which 
projects nearly six degrees into the very heart of the 
United States, ought to be sufficient. It remains a 
standing monument, admonishing us of our duty to 
ourselves, our country, and posterity. 

The annexation of the territory of the Canadas to 
the United States, would open to the future millions 
that will inhabit^the American borders of the vast in- 
terior waters, a free and natural channel of commerce 
down the St. Lawrence ; give us a north-western 
frontier, guarded by impenetrable barriers of frost 
which would save miUions, that will be required to 
defend the present extended and exposed frontier ; 
and remove a permanent cause of differences and 
wars between the two countries. 

But there is another reason, perhaps, more impor- 
tant than any which has been noticed. The acqui- 
sition of the Canadas is necessary to preserve the 
poUtical balance of the Union, ajid to coantervail the 



188 LIFE OF 

immense territory which has been acquired to the 
south and west, by the cession ofliOuisiana. In ad^ 
dition to these considerations, it is an object worthy 
of a free, an enlightened, and magnanimous nation, 
which boasts of its liberty, its laws, and civil institu- 
tions, to extend, by all just and proper means, the 
inestimable blessings of a free press, free suffrage, and 
the principles of republican government, to all who 
are in a condition to receive and enjoy them ; and 
especially to a brave and hospitable people, whose 
contiguity to our Republic renders (hem special ob- 
jects of our sympathy, and whose destiny seems to 
have been identified with our own, by the common 
Parent of the human family. 

From these, and other considerations which this 
subject presents, but which would be exceeding our 
prescribed limits to examine, it is believed that the 
union of the Canadas with the United States, would 
form an ^ra in the annals of our Republic, second 
to none except the declaration of its independence, 
and the acquisition of Louisiana, which opened to us 
the vast resources of the Mississippi, and its tributa- 
ry waters. 

The following extract from Bouchette^s topograph- 
ical description of Canada, contains the most accu- 
rate description of the St. Lawrence, the lakes, and 
their tributary waters, and the country immediately 
bordering upon, them, which has been published ; 
and we cannot resist the desire which we feel to em 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 1$9 

body it in this work ; although the extensive range 
%yhich it takes, and its full and minute descriptions, 
^ive it a copiousness which somewhat exceeds the 
limits that we had prescribed to ourselves upon this 
subject. 

" The river St. Lawrence (which from its first dis- 
covery in 1565, has been called by the inhabitants of 
the country, to mark its pre-eminence, the Great riv- 
er,) receives nearly all the rivers, which have their 
sources in the extensive range of mountains to the 
northward, called the Land's Height, that separates 
the waters falling into Hudson's Bay still further to 
the north, from those that descend into the Atlantic; 
and all those that rise in the ridge which commences 
on its southern bank, and runs nearly south-westerly, 
until it falls upon Lake Champlaiii. Of these, the 
principal ones are the Ottawa, Musquinonge,St. Mau- 
rice, St. Ann, Jacques Cartier, Saguenay, Betsiam- 
ites, and Manitouagan on the north ; and the Salmon 
river, Chateaugay, Chambiy or Richelieu, Yamaska, 
St. Francis, Becancour, Du Chene, Chaudiere, and 
Du Loup, on the south. In different parts of its 
course, it is known under different appellations ; thus, 
as high up from the sea as Montreal, it is called St. 
Lawrence ; from Montreal to Kingston in Upper 
Canada, it is called the Cataraqui, or Iroquois ; (Ca- 
taraqui was the Indian name for the river Iroquois, 
the name given by the French to the six nations) be- 
tween lake Ontario and lake Erie, it is called Niaga- 



i90 LIFE. OF 

ra river ; between lake Erie and lake St. Clair, the 
Detroit ; between lake St. Clair and lake Huron, the 
river St. Clair; and between lake Huron and lake 
Superior, the distance is called the Narrows, or the 
ialls of St. Mary, forming thus an uninterrupted con- 
nexion of 2000 miles. Lake Superior, without the 
aid of any great effort of imagination, may be consid- 
ered as the inexhaustible spring from whence through 
Unnumbered ages, the St. Lawrence has continued 
to derive its ample stream. I am not aware that the 
source of this river has thus been defined before; but 
examining the usual mode of tracing large rivers from 
their heads to the estuaries, 1 venture to believe that 
I am warranted in adopting the hypothesis. This 
immense lake, unequalled in magnitude by any col- 
lection of fresh water on the globe, is almost of a tri" 
cmgular form ; its greatest length is 381, its breadth 
161, and its circumference little less than 1152 miles? 
and as remarkable for the unrivalled transparency of 
its waters, as for its extraordinary depth. Its north- 
ern coast, indented with many extensive bays, is high 
and rocky ; but on the southern shore the land is gen- 
erally low and level ; a sea almost of itself, it is sub- 
ject to many vicissitudes of that element, for here the 
storm rages, and the billows break with a violence 
scarcely surpassed by the tempests of the ocean. In 
the distant range of mountains that forms the Land's 
Height, beyond its northern and western shores, sev- 
eral considerable rivers, and numerous small ones 



OLIVER H. PERRl^. 19| 

have their rise, which being increased in their course 
bj many snnall lakes, finally discharge themselves in- 
to lake Superior. To the southward, also, there is 
another lofty range, dividing the waters that find their 
way to the Gulf of Mexico, through the channel of 
the Mississippi, from those that take a northern course 
into the great lake ; so that its vastness is increased 
by the tributary streams of more than thirty rivers. 
On its north and north-east sides, there are several 
islands, of which one, called Isle Royale, is the lar^^- 
est, being one hundred miles long, and forty broad. — 
Out of lake Superior a very rapid current is interrup- 
ted and broken by several small islands, or rather 
huge masses of rock, through a channel of twenty- 
seven miles in length, at the end of which, it flows 
into lake Huron. The Falls of St. Mary are nearly 
midway between the two lakes ; this denomination 
though generally given, but little accords with the 
usual appellation of Falls, as applied to the descent 
of large bodies of vfater precipitated from great 
heights, that so frequently occur on the rivers of 
America ; for in this place, it is only the impetu- 
ous stream of the enormous discharge from lake Su- 
perior, forcing its way through a confined canneJ, 
and breaking, with proportionate violence, among 
the impediments that nature has thrown in its way ; 
yet this scene of tumultuous and and unceasing agita- 
tion of the waters, combined with the noise and dsez- 



192 f'^^^ <^^' 

zling whiteness of the surge, is not deficient either n\ 
grandeur or magnificence." 

" Lake Huron, in point of extent, yields but little 
to lake Superior, its greatest length from west to east 
is 21 8 statute miles ; at its western extremity it is less 
than one hundred, and at about one hundred miles 
from its eastern shore, barely sixty miles broad ; but 
near the centre it suddenly bends away southward, 
to the breadth of one hundred and eighty miles ; mea- 
suring the circumference through all its curvatures, 
will give a distance of little less than 812 miles ; in 
shape it is exceedingly irregular, yet, with little as- 
sistance from fancy, may be fashioned into something 
like a triangular. From its western side an exten- 
sive series, called the Manatoulin Islands, stretches 
in an easterly direction for one hundred and sixty 
miles j many of them measuring from twenty to thir- 
ty miles in length, by ten.^ twelve, and fifteen in 
breadth, on some of which the land rises into eleva- 
tions of considerable height. Besides this great chain, 
there are many others of inferior dimensions, nume- 
rously grouped in various parts, rendering the navi- 
gation intricate, and in some places, and particularly 
towards the west end, dangerous. On this lake also, 
the navigation is often assailed by violent storms, at- 
tended with thunder and lightning, more terrific than 
in any other part of North America. At the western 
angle of lake Huron is lake Michigan, which, altho' 
distinguished by a separate name, can only be con- 



OLIVER H. PERKY, 193 

aidered as a part of the former, deepening into a bay 
of 262 miles in langth, by sixty-five in breadth, and 
whose entire circumference, is 731 miles. Between 
it and lake Huron there is a peninsula that, at the 
widest part, is 150 miles, along which, and round 
the bottom of Michigan, runs part of the chain form^ 
ing the Land's Height, to the southward ; from whence 
descend many large, and numerous inferior streams, 
that discharge into it. On the north side of lake Hu- 
ron, many rivers of considerable size, run from the 
Land's Height down to it. One of them, called 
French river, communicates with lake Nipissing, 
from whence a succession of smaller ones, connec- 
ted by short portages, opens an intercourse with the 
Ottawa river, that joins the St. Lawrence near Mon- 
treal. On the eastern extremity of the lake is the 
Machedash river, which, through another succession 
of lakes, separated only by one short portage, estab- 
lishes a communication by lake Simcoe. Holland riv- 
er, and Yonge-street, with the town of York, now 
called the capital of Upper Canada ; this route would 
most materially shorten the distance between the 
upper and lower lakes, and is capable of such im- 
provement, as would render it highly beneficial to 
Upper Canada, a subject that will be hereafter ad- 
verted to. From the extremity of lake Huron to the 
southward, the course of the waters are contracted 
into a river, (called St. Clair's) that flow between 
moderately high banks, adorned by many natural 
17 



194 LIFE OF 

beauties, for a distance of sixty miles, nearly due 
south, when it again expands into the small lake St. 
Clair, almost circular in form, its diameter about 30 
miles, and about 90 in circuit, too diminutive, when 
compared with the preceding ones, (and not being 
otherwise remarkable) to demand a further descrip- 
tion. Out of this lake the waters again assume the 
form of a river, (called Detroit) continuing the same 
southerly course for 40 miles, into lake Erie ; its 
stream is divided into two channels from space to 
space, by islands of various sizes, the largest being 
about ten miles long. On the east side of this river 
the prospect is diversified and agreeable, displaying 
some of the beauties of an exuberant soil, aided by a 
very respectable state of cultivation, and enlivened 
by the cheerful appearance of settlements and villa- 
ges, gradually rising into consequence by the indus- 
try of an increasing population. The Detroit opens 
into the south-west end of lake Erie. This lake ex- 
tends from south-west to north-east two hundred and 
thirty-one miles, in its broadest part is 63 1-2, and 
in circumference 658. Near the Detroit, it is adorn- 
ed by many pleasing and picturesque islands, whilst 
its shores on both sides, have many indications of 
settlement and cultivation. Gales of wind frequent- 
ly occur, and bring with them a heavy swell, with 
every characteristic of a gale of wind at sea ; but 
Here are many good harbours, particularly on the 



OLkVER H. PERRY. 195 

northern side,*^ that afford protection to the numer- 
ous vessels that navigate it. Its greatest depth of 
water is between 40 and 45 fathoms, its bottom gen- 
erally rocky, which renders the anchorage precari- 
ous, particularly in blowing weather. From the 
north-east end of lake Erie, the communication to 
lake Ontario, is by the Niagara river, 36 miles in 
length, and varying from half a mile to a league ia 
breadth, its course nearly north. The stream in 
some places is divided into two channels by islands, 
the largest of which is seven miles in length. The 
current is impetuous, and being broken in many pla- 
ces by the uneven rocky bottom, is very much agita- 
ted. The banks on each side of the river are almost 
perpendicular, and considerably more than one hun- 
dred yards high. On the western side the road pas- 

*tiere the partiality ot'the Canadian appears. Lake Erie is 
n[i4oi tiinately deficient in good harbours on both shores, Mit ifno 
other circuin'^lance except the confluent rivers existed, that alone 
wotild give a decided preference to the southern shore. It ^ a 
singular fact that theOuse or Grand River, is the only stream of 
any consequence which enters lake Erie irora the Canada shore ; 
whilst on the opposite side enter the Cataraugns, Ashtabula, 
Cayahoga, Black river, Vermiliiou, Huron oi'ihe state of Ohio, 
Sandusky, IMaumee, Raisin and the southern Huron of ibe Mi- 
chigan Territory ; and besides these, many of which afford good 
shelter for vessels, are the harbours of Dunkirk and Erie, into 
which no rivers are diserabogue<l. Put-in-Bay, in the southern 
Bass island, is an excellent harbour, perhaps, except Detroit 
river itself, the best irvlake Erie. [Darby's Tour, 



196 LIFE OP 

ses along its summit, and delights the traveller with 
many interesting views both of the river and the 
country, which is thickly inhabited, and under excel- 
lent culture. Here also his mind will be lost in won- 
der, at viewing the stupendous falls of Niagara, un- 
questionably one of the most extraordinary specta- 
cles in nature, that presents to the imagination as pow- 
erful a combination of sublimity and grandeur, mag- 
nificence and terror, as it can well experience. Any 
description, however animated, whether pourtrayed 
by the glowing pencil of art, guided by the hveliest 
fancy, or flowing from the most eloquent pen that em- 
bellishes the page of narrative, would, most proba- 
bly, fall short of doing adequate justice to the reali- 
ty. The attempt, however, has been so frequently 
made, and in some few instances with tolerable suc- 
cess, as to convey an idea of its immensity, that, '' a 
description of the Fall's of Niagara" has become fa- 
miliar to almost every general reader. For this 
reason, and also because in any new endeavour, I 
should certainly feel but little confident of either 
reaching the merit of the subject, or contributing to 
the stock of knowledge already obtained thereon, I 
will excuse myself from repeating what has been so 
often related before, and proceed in describing with 
xny best means, the general outlines of this majestic 
river. 

" Five miles from the great Falls is another, and 
scarcely less tremendous natural curiosity, called thf 



OLIVER H. PERRr. 197 

whirlpool. It is occasioned by the stream as it pas- 
ses from the cataract, sweeping with impetuous vio- 
lence round a natural basin enclosed between some 
rocky promontories, wherein it forms a vortex, that 
ensures inevitable destruction to whatever comes 
within its attraction. By thus diverging from its 
forward direction, and being as it were embayed for 
a time, the velocity of the current is checked, and 
subdued to a more tranquil course towards Lake On- 
tario. Four miles from hence is Qucenstown, a neat, 
well built placcy deserving of notice, as being the de- 
pot for all merchandize and stores, brought from Mon- 
treal and Quebec, for the use of the upper province ; 
but not less so for the romantic beauty and local 
grandeur of its situation. For seven miles further 
on, to the town of Newark or Niagara, the river 
forms an excellent capacious harbour for vessels of 
any size, exceedingly well sheltered by high and 
bold banks on each side, with good anchorage in ev- 
ery part. The river of Niagara communicates with 
the west end of Lake Ontario, rendered memorable 
by events recently passed, and most probably destin- 
ed to become the scene of contests, that will be preg- 
nant with momentous import to North America, in 
future ages. In length it is 171 miles, at its greatest 
breadth 53 1-2, and 467 in circumference. The 
depth of water varies very much, but is seldom less 
than three, or more than fifty fathoms, except in the 
middle, where attempts have been made with 300 

*17 



Ids LIFE. OF 

fathoms without striking soundings. Ita positioi ' 
nearly east and west. The appearance of the sh( r^r 
exhibits great diversity ; towards the north-east] 
they are low, with many marshy places ; to the n< 
and north-west, they assume a lofty character, but s 
aide again to very moderate height on the south. 1 - 
dering the lake the country is every where covered 
with woods, through whose numerous openings fre- 
quent patches of settlements are seen that give it a 
pleasing effect, which is greatly heightened by the 
white cliffs of Toronto, and the remarkable high land 
over Presque Isle, called the Devil's Nose, on the 
north ; the view on the south is well relieved with a 
back ground produced by the ridge of hills that, after 
forming the precipice for the cataract, stretches away 
to the eastward ; the finishing object of the prospect 
in this direction is a conical eminence towering above 
the chain of heights, called Fifty Mile Hill, as deno- 
ting its distance frem the town of Niagara. Of the 
many rivers flowing into Lake Ontario, if the Gene- 
see and Oswego rivers be excepted, there are none 
that lay claim to particular notice, unless it be for the 
peculiarity of them having a sandy bar across the en- 
trance. There are some fine bays and inlets, where- 
in vessels of every description may find protection 
against bad weather. Burlington bay is both spa- 
cious and secure ; but these advantages are rendered 
of little importance by its narrow entrance being so 
shallow as to admit nothing larger than boats. Hun- 



OLIVER H. FSRRV. 198 

gry bay, on the contrary, is conspicuous, as affording 
good anchorage, and safe shelter among the islands, 
to ships of the largest size, at all seasons. York and 
Kingston harbours, belonging to the English, and 
Sackett's Harbour to the Americans, are unquestion- 
ably the best upon the lake, as they possess every 
natural requsite ; the two latter are strongly fortified, 
being the arsenals where ships of war, even of the 
first rate, have been constructed by both powers, 
and from whence have been fitted out those power- 
ful hostile squadrons, that have conferred so much 
consequence upon the naval operations in this quar- 
ter. Very heavy squalls of wind frequently occur, 
but they are unattended with eihter difficulty or dan- 
ger, if met by the usual precautions every seaman is 
acquainted with. 

" Of the many islands at the east end of Ontario, 
the Grand Isle, lying abreast of Kingston, is the most 
extensive, and by being placed at the commence- 
ment of the Cataraqui river, forms two channels 
leading into it, that bear the name of the North, or 
Kingston Channel, and the South, or Charlton Isl- 
and Channel. Cataraqui, from its entrance to the 
place called Petit Detroit, about 39 miles, is almost 
filled with one continued cluster of small islands, so 
numerous as to have occasioned the general denomi- 
nation of Milles Isles. The distance between Kings- 
ton and Montreal is about 190 miles ; the banks of 
the river display a scene that cannot fail to excit* 



2jQP LIPE OF 

surprize, when the years that have elapsed since the 
first settlement of this part of the country (in 1783,) 
are considered. They embrace all the embellish- 
ments of a numerous population, fertility, and good 
cultivation. Well constructed high roads lead- 
ing close to each side, with others branching from 
them into the interior, render communication both 
easy and expeditious, whilst the numerous loaded 
batteaux and rafts incessantly passing up and down^ 
from the beginning of spring, until the latter 
end of autumn, demonstrate, unequivocally, a very 
extensive commercial intercourse. The islands, the 
shoals, the rapids, with contrivances for passing them 
form, altogether, a succession of novelties that gives 
pleasure, while it creates astonishment. 

*' Before reaching Montreal, the lakes St. Francis, 
St. Louis, and des Montagiies, present themselves : 
they do not admit of comparison with those already 
noticed, and can indeed, only be considered as so 
many widenings of the river. They are of no great 
depth, but form an agreeable variety, by having ma^ 
ny pretty islands scattered about them^ St. Fran- 
cis is 25 miles long, by 5 1-2 miles broad ; the shores 
in some places are marshy, as they do not rise much 
above the level of the water. St. Louis and Deux 
Montagues, are formed at the junction of the Otta- 
wa with the St. Lawrence : the first is 12 miles loner 
hj 6 broad j the latter is very irregular, and in its 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 201 

whole Jength 34 miles, but varying in breadth from i 
to 6 miles. 

" At the confluence of the two rivers are the islands 
of Montreal, isle Jesus, Bizarre, and Perrot ; the first 
is probably the most beautiful spot of all Lower Ca- 
nada. On the north side of this island is the city of 
the same name, and its convenient port, 580 miles 
from the gulph of St. Lawrence, to which ships of six 
hundred tons can ascend with very little difficulty. 
On the north-west lies isle Jesus, that, by its position, 
forms two other channels of a moderate breadth, one 
called la Riviere des Prairies, and the other la Rivi- 
ere de St. Jean, or Jesus. They are both navigable 
for boats or rafts, and unite again with the main riv- 
er at Boat de V Isle, or east end of Montreal island. 
From this city, tlie navigation assumes a character of 
more consequence than what it does above, being 
carried on in ships and decked vessels of all classes. 
In the distance from hence to Quebec, 180 miles, the 
impediments to vessels of large tonnage sailing either 
up or down are not many, and may be overcome with 
much ease, if it be judged expedient that their car- 
goes should be so conveyed, in preference to trans- 
porting them in smwill craft. On either side, the pros- 
pect is worthy of admiration. The different seign- 
iorities, all in the highest state of improvement that 
the agriculture of the country will admit of, denote 
both affluence and industry. The views are always 
pleasing and often beautiful, although the component 



."202 LIf E OF 

parts of them do not possess that degree of grandeur | 
which is perceivable below Quebec. Numerous vil- 
lages built around a handsome stone church, seem to 
invite the traveller's attention, while single houses 
and farms at agreeable distance, appear to keep up 
a regular chain of communication. In fact, whoever 
passes from one city to the other, whether by water 
or by land, will not fail to have his senses highly 
gratified, and to meet with m^ny subjects worthy 
both of observation and reflection. About 45 miles 
below Montreal, on the south side, is the town of 
William Henry, or Sorrel, built at the entrance of 
the river Richelieu into the St. Lawrence, not 
far from which the latter spreads into another lake, 
the last in its progress towards the sea ; it is called 
St. Peters, is 25 miles long and 9 broad ; like most of 
the others, this has a group of islands covering about 
9 miles of the western part ; between them two dis- 
tinct channels are formed, the one to the south being 
the deepest and clearest, is consequently the best for 
ships. The banks on each side are very low, with 
shoals stretchingfrom them to a considerable distance, 
so that only a narrow passage, whose general depth 
is from 12 to 18 (eet, is left unobstructed. About 45 
miles from William Henry on the north side, at the 
mouth of the river St. Maurice, stands the town of 
Three Rivers, the third in rank within the province. 
At this place the tide ceases entirely, and, indeed, is 
not much felt at several miles below : from hence 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 20S 

there is scarce any variation in the general aspect of 
the St. Lawrence, until arriving at the Richelieu ra- 
pid (about 52 miles,) where its bed is so much con- 
tracted or obstructed by huge masses of rock, as to 
leave but a very narrow channel, wherein at ebb tide 
there is so great a descent, that much caution, and a 
proper time of the ebb is necessary to pass through it; 
at the end of the rapid, there is a good anchorage, 
where vessels can wait their convenient opportunity. 
From Montreal, thus far, the banks are of a very mo- 
derate elevation, and uniformly level, but hereabout 
they are much higher, and gradually increase in their 
approach to Quebec, until they attain the height of 
Cape Diamond, upon which the city is built. At this 
capital of the province and seat of government, there 
is a most excellent port and a capacious basin, where= 
in the greatest depth of water is 28 fathoms, with a 
tide rising from 17 to 18, and at the springs, from 23 
to 24 feet. From whence, and from Point Levi on 
the south shore, one of the most striking panoramic 
views, perhaps, in the whole world, offers itself to 
notice ; the assemblage of objects is so grand, and 
though naturally, yet appear so artificially contrasted 
with each other, that they mingle surprize with the 
gratification of every beholder. The capital upon 
Uie summit of the cape, the river St, Charles, flowing 
for a great distance, through a valley, abounding in 
natural beauties, the falls of Montmorency, the island 
of Orleans, and the well cultivated settlements on all 



204 LIFE OF 

sides, form together a coup d' ei3, that might enter 
into competition with the most romantic. At the 
basin, the St. Lawrence is two miies across, and con- 
tinues increasing in breadth until it enters the gulf 
of the same name, where, from Cape Rosier to the 
Mingan settlement on the Labrador shore, it is very 
near 105 miles wide. A little below the city is the 
Isle of Orleans, placed in the midway, consequently 
forming two channels ; the one to the south is always 
used by ships, the shore on that side is high, and on 
the opposite, in some places, it is even mountainous, 
but in both, extremely well settled, and the lands in 
such a high state of improvement, that a large tract 
in the vicinity of Riviere du Sud, is familiarly cal- 
led the granary of the province. Beyond the island 
of Orleans, are several others, as Goose Island, Crane 
island, and many smaller ones ; these two are tole- 
rably well cultivated, but the rest are neglected. At j 
Riviere du Sud, the great river is increased to eleven 
miles in width, and the country that adjoins it, can- ] 
not be easily rivalled in its general appearance. The '< 
great number of churches, telegraph stations, and ; 
villages, whose houses are almost always whitened, 
are so well exhibited by the dark contia-t of the thick 
woods, covering the rising grounds behind them up 
to their summits, and the termination so completely 
defined by the distant range of lofty mountains form- ^ 
ing the boundary before noticed, that very few land- |j 
scapes will be found actually superior to it. Be* 



QLIVER H. PLRRY. §05 

jond Ptivierc du Sud, is a channel named the Tra- 
verse, which deserves mention from the circumstance 
of the river being here thirteen miles across ; yet 
the Isic aux Coudres, the shoal of St. Roche, and 
another called the English Bank, interrupt the fair 
way so much, that this passage, which is the usual 
one the pilots choose, is not more than from 1700 to 
1800 yards, between the two buoys that mark the 
edge of the shoals ; it is the most intricate part of the 
river below Quebec, the currents are numerous, ir- 
regular and very strong, on which large ships must 
consult the proper time of the tide to pass it without 
accident. On the north shore between the Isle au>: 
Coudres, and the main, there is another channel, but 
the current is so rapid, the depth of the water so great, 
,ind the holding ground so bad in case of being obli- 
ged to anchor within it, that pilots give the prefer- 
<jnce to running through the Traverse. Not the 
smallest difficulty will ever be found in making this 
passage good, if tlie bearings and directions laid down 
upon my topographical map be duly attended to. 
Passing the Traverse, a very agreeable view of the 
settlements of the bay of St. Paul, enclosed within 
an ampitheatre of very high hills, and the well culti- 
vated Isle aux Coudres at its entrance, presents it- 
self. Continuing down the river, the next in suces- 
sion are the islands of Kamourasca, the Pilgrims, 
Hare Island, and (he cluster of small ones near it, 
named the Brandy Pots, these are reckoned 1103 



206 LIPE OF 

miles from Quebec, and well known as the rendez^ 
vous, where the merchant ships collect to sail with 
convoj. From hence, at no great distance, is Green 
island, on which is a light-house, where a light is 
shewn from sun-set to sun-rise, from the 15th of 
April to the 10th of December. Near Green island 
is Red island, and abreast of it, on the northern 
shore, is the mouth of the river Saguenay, remarka- 
ble even in America, for the immense volume of wa- 
ter it pours into the St. Lawrence. Proceeding on- 
wards is Bic island, 153 miles from Quebec, a point 
that ships always endeavour to make on account of 
its good anchorage, as well as being the place where 
men of war usually wait the coming down of the 
merchantmen ; next to Bic island, is the Isle St. Bar- 
liabe, and a little farther on the Point aux Peres.— 
From this point the river is perfectly clear to the 
gulf, and the pilots being unnecessary any longer, 
here give up their charge of such as are bound out- 
wards, and receive those destined upwards. Below 
Point aux Peres, are two very extraordinary moun- 
tains, close to each other, called the Paps of Matane, 
and nearly opposite them the bold and lofty prom- 
ontory of Mount Pelee, where the river is little more 
than 25 miles wide, but the coast suddenly stretches 
almost northerly, so much, that at the seven islands, 
it is increased to 73 miles. The settlements on the 
south side reach down thus far, but hereabouts, they 
may be considered to terminate, as to the eastward 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 207 

of cape Chat, the progress of industry is no longer 
visible ; on the north side, the cultivated lands ex- 
tend only to Malbay. In the river itself, nothing 
(farther,) claims our attention, except the separation 
of its shores to the distance already nientioned, from 
cape Rosier to the Mingan settlement. 

" I must still trespass upon the patience of my rea- 
ders long enough to mention, that the observations 
hither made, apply only to one part of the year; and 
also, to notice, that from the beginning of Decem- 
ber, until the middle of April, the w^ater communica- 
tion is totally suspended by the frost. During this 
period, the river from Quebec to Kingston, and be- 
tween the great lakes, except the Niagara and the 
rapids, is wholly frozen over. The lakes themselves 
are never entirely covered with ice, but it usually 
shuts up all the bays and inlets, and extends many 
miles towards their centres. Below Quebec it is not 
frozen over, but the force of the tides incessantly 
detaches the ice from the shores, and such immense 
masses are kept in continual agitation by the flux and 
reflux, that navigation is totally impracticable in 
these months. But though for this length of winter, 
the land and water are so nearly identified, the util- 
ity of the river, if it be diminished, is far from being 
wholly destroyed, for its surface still offers the best 
route for land carriage, (if the metaphor can be ex- 
cused ;) and tracks are soon marked out by which a 
more expeditious intercourse is maintained by vehi- 



..les of transport of all descriptions, than it would be 
possible to do on the established roads, at this sea- 
son so deeply covered with snov/, and which are 
available until the approach of spring makes the ice 
porous, and warm springs occasioning large i3aws, 
render it unsafe. When this alteration takes placed 
it soon breaks up, and by the beginning of May, is 
either dissolved or carried off by the current. 

•'The gulf of St. Lawrence, that receives the wa- 
ters of tins gigantic river, is formed between the wes- 
tern part of Newfoundland, the eastern shores of 
Labrador, the eastern extremity of the province of 
New-Brunswick, part of the province of Nova Sco- 
tia, and the island of Cape Breton. It communi- 
cates with the Atlantic ocean by three different pas- 
sages, viz. : on the north by the straits of Belleisle, 
between Labrador and Newfoundland ; on the south- 
east by the passage from cape Ray ; the south-west 
extremity of the latter island, and the north cape of 
Breton Island ; and lastly by the narrow channel 
named the gut of Canso, that divids cape Breton 
from Nova Scotia. The distance from cape Breton 
to cape Ray is 79 leagues, and from Nova Scotia to 
Labrador one hundred and six." 

Although the character of (his work calls our at- 
tention more particularly to lake Erie, and its bor- 
ders, which were the scenes of the naval and milita- 
ry operations upon Hie north western frontier, yet as 
■his lake i^ an intermedial and connecting Jink in the 



OLIVER H, PERRY. 209 

irreat chain of water communication which drains the 
valley of the St. Lawrence, and as these immense 
waters have, in some measure, an identity of charac- 
ter, we have given a coniiected view of the whole. 
We will return to Lake Erie, and close our topo- 
graphical descriptions, by a concise view of that por- 
tion of the country upon its borders, and upon those 
of the Detroit river and lake Michigan, which have 
become historic ground. 

The navigation of Lake Erie is less safe than might 
be supposed ; the wind frequently blows upon it 
with great violence, and it is visited by gales almost 
as severe and dangerous as those which occur upon 
the Atlantic coast. And what renders these gales 
more appalling is, that there are no good and safe 
harbours in the north-eastern extremity of the lake, 
A tremendous gale occurred on this lake in Novem- 
ber, 1819, which did extensive damage.* The best 

*The foMowing arcount of l!ie damage occasioned by this 
gale, appeared in Hie Clevelatul Register, ot* November 24tli. 

" T he schooner Independence, of Sandnsky, John Brooks 
maslerand oivncr, cleared irorn the monlh of Black river, on 
Saturday, the lllh inst., for Detroit, loaded with corn. The 
vessel was capsized in the gale, the cargo lost, and every soul 
on board droivncd. '1 he wreck drifted on shore near the naoutli 
of Grand river. A wreck of a vessel, bottom upwards, was seen 
off tiie mojith of Grand river. Sri. ooner Pauline was driven on 
shore near the onouth of (jraud river, and bilged ; hercrew sav- 
ed^ bat her cargo, consisting of salt, lost. Schooner Boxer, 

*]8 



210 LIFE OF 

and (he principal part of the harbours upon lake Erie 
are upon the American side; of which Put-in-Bay, 
famou? for having been the place where Perrj's 
squadron lay previously to the action of the 1 0th of 
Septennber, is, perhaps, the safest and most valuable; 
the harbour of Detroit, upon the Detroit river, not 
being considered as belonging to lake Erie. 

Of the country bordering upon lake Erie, there is 
none that has equal claims upon our attention with 
the tract, which during the war, was called the Indian 
country in the state of Ohio, comprising the north- 
western section of that state. This tract, which was the 
scene of so many disasters of our troops, and whose 
soil had been stained with thebloodof ourdefenceless 
inhabitants, the victims of Indian outrage and massa- 
cre, was rescued from the dominion of the tomahawk 
and scalping-knife, by the victory upon lake Erie. 
Here the effects of that victory were the most imme- 
diately and conspicuously felt. 

lying iu the mouth of Grand river, dismantled, bilged, and a 
complete wreck, crew saved : schooner Wasp dismantled and 
driven on shore at the raouth of Cunningham's creek, and bilg- 
ed ; her crew saved, bnt cargo lost : schooner General Brown 
^as driven on shore, near the montli of Black river, her crew 
all safe, but the vessel considerably damaged : schooner Geue- 
ralJack«on, left Green Bay, on Lake Mi<higau, for IVlackinawi 
some time since, and has not been since heard of: fears are en- 
iertiined for her safety. British brig Lord Wellington, of Cana- 
da, wav driven on shoie at point Abino, and went tn pieces : 
crew saved, but cargo losk 



OLIVER H. PERRY, 21 i 

This interesting portion of the western country, is 
situated between the 40th and 42d degress of north 
latitude. Its average length, from north to south, 
is about 100 miles, with a medial breadth of about 
the same, comprising nearly 7,000,000 acres of excel- 
lent land. The face of the country is either per- 
fectly level, or pleasingly diversified with gentle em- 
inences, and moderate vales. Contrary to what usu- 
ally occurs, the most hilly parts are not situated in 
that section which is the source of the rivers, 
but contiiijuous to the lake. The southern part of 
Miis territory stretching along the late Indian boun- 
dary line, and which embraces the source of a num-- 
ber of rivers, some running south into the Ohio, oth- 
ers north into lake Erie, is very flat, and contains 
numerous small lakes, from whence many of the riv- 
ers originate. Near the lake income parts, the 
country abounds with beautiful plains or prairies 
some of which are many miles in extent, and appar- 
ently as level as the surface of the lake. These 
plains, in the seasons of vegetation, are covered with 
a natural grass, that often grows six or eight feet 
high, with which is interspersed a rich variety of 
fragrant flowers. The traveller, after traversing for 
miles, a thick and gloomy forest, presenting a painful 
uniformity of objects, suddenly emerging from the 
dreariness of the wilderness, enters upon these vir- 
gin plains, decked with the richest verdure, with the 
most delightful and enlivening sensations. So sud- 



212 LIFE OF 

den and so great is the change of scenery, that he al- 
most doubts the evidence of his senses — He hesitates 
whether the scene before liim is a reahtj, or the il- 
lusions of a vision. 

The soil throughout this whole tract, is of the first 
quality, and not surpassed by any in the western 
country. Its waters are abundant and valuable. It 
is intersected by a number of beautiful rivers, of 
which the Maumee, rendered famous by the events 
of the war, is the most important. The Au Glaize, 
the St. Joseph's, and the St. Mary's, are the princi- 
pal branches of the Maumee. Besides these are 
Portage and Sandusky rivers, and other inconsidera- 
ble streams, which discharge their waters into Lake 
Erie. 

Such is the country which was infested with In- 
dians during the war, and which was the scene of so 
many outrages. Such the unequalled soil, and the 
unrivalled waters, which for a succession of ages have 
been occupied for hunting grounds and fishing ponds ; 
but the barrier to civiHzation having been removed, 
the one will now shortly become cultivated fields, and 
the other ports of entry. Upon lake Erie, within this 
territory, there are several harbours at the mouths of 
the rivers, and elsewhere. That of Put-in-Bay, al- 
ready noticed, situated at the cluster of islands called 
Bass islands, near the western extremity of the lake, 
has become distinguished, from having been the sta- 
tion of Perry's squadron, both before and subsequent 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 213 

to the action, it was evidently the intention of the 
enemy to have attacked our squadron, whilst at an- 

i chor in this bay ; but the vigilance of Perry, and the 
activity of his officers and men, deprived the enemy 

i of this intended advantage ; the moment they were 

I discovered, Perry's squadron was got under way^ 

i and stood out to meet them. 

Upon the beautiful river Maumee, stood fort 
Meigs, which for a considerable time, formed the 

igreat barrier to the north-western frontier, and was 

I the scene of many of the distressing vicissitudes of 

Ithe war. Here the unfortunate defeat of Colonel 
Dudley occurred, which involved the fate of many 
of the brave sons of Kentucky, and swelled the dis- 

jastrous notes •f the war upon this devoted frontier ; 
and here, in many of the sorties from the fort, the 
Americans displayed their characteristic bravery and 
ardour, and finally had the satisfaction to witness the 

(precipitate retreat of the enemy. 

Off the coast of this territory, the great naval ac- 

Htion upon lake Erie was fought ; when, for the first 
time, the cannonry of contending fleets, resounded 
through its forests, and, for the first time, the tro- 
phies of victory were brought within its waters. 

As this portion of the westtrn country was expos- 
ed to all the horrors of Indian hostility, and was des- 
tined to experience a large portion of the evils of 
Trar \ so on the other hand, there was perhaps no 
3>ther section which, in the sequel, derived equal ad- 



214 LlPE Of 

rantages from it. The Indians belonging to the tribes 
within this tract, who took a part iii the war against 
the United States, retired and left their lands. From 
this, and other causes growing out of the war, the 
Indians were induced to dispose of their lands ; and 
accordingly, in 1818, they ceded their title to the 
whole of this tract, with the exception of some reser- 
vations, to the United States, The lands are now 
about to be surveyed, and brought into market; and 
the country opened for settlement. 

The events of the war also led the Americans to 
traverse this territory, and to become acquainted with 
its advantages, as to surface, soil, waters, and loca- 
tion, which before were but imperfectly known. — 
Considering all the advantages which it unites, and 
the population which the settled parts of the state 
already possess, there can be no doubt.vl^ut that it 
will settle with a rapidity not surpassed in any other 
section of the western country. This tract, as it 
does not contain scarcely an acre of land which is 
not susceptible of cultivation, is capable of sustain- 
ing a dense population, and when settled, will swell 
nearly one fourth, the population of the state. 

In noticing these sections of the north-western 
frontier, which were relieved from the evils of war, 
and the horrors of Indian outrag:e, by the victory up- 
on lake Erie, the territory of Michigan, and that vast 
district west of lake Michigan, and south of lake Su 
perior, which fell into the hands of the Britith from 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 215 

the inglorious surrender of General Hull, and the 
capture of fort Mackinaw, claim a conspicuous atten- 
tion. Scarcely had the enemy possessed themselves 
of the fort and town of Detroit, before the articles of 
capitulation were violated, in the most perfidious and 
shameless manner. The faith of British officers had 
been pledged for the protection of the persons and 
property of the inhabitants of the territory ; yet they 
were immediately exposed to every species of vio- 
lence, and depredation which a barbarian foe, flush- 
ed with victory, could perpetrate. Many of these 
acts of violence and outrage, were committed under 
the eye of Colonel Proctor, who commanded at De- 
troit. The territory had remained in this situation 
for more than twelve months, when the victory upon 
lake Erie occurred, which dispelled the gloom with 
which it was overcast, and restored to the afflicted 
inhabitants, the blessings of peace, and the protec- 
tion of the laws and government of their country. 

The beautiful Peninsula which constitutes the Mi- 
chigan territory, is delightfully situated between 
lakes Erie, St. Clair, Huron and Michigan, and is 
nearly 250 miles in length, from north to south, and 
from 150 to 200 in breadth, from east to west, com- 
prising about 37,000 square miles. This territory 
being nearly encircled by water, has an extensive 
lake border, which is indented by numerous bays 
and inlets, affording many good harbours, and great 
facilities for navigation and the fisheries. Its interi- 



216 LIFE OF 

or is watered by numerous convenient and naviga 
ble rivers, which intersect and fertilize it, in every 
direction. Of these rivers, the most considerable 
are the Raisin, the Huron of lake Erie, the Huron 
of Lake St. Clair, and the St. Joseph, which falls 
into lake Michigan. Upon the banks of the river 
Raisin, is situated Frenchtown, rendered famous by 
the defeat of General Winchester, and the shocking 
massacre of the American prisoners. This was ori- 
ginally a French settlement, as were most of the oth- 
ers within this territory. Those parts of the territo- 
ry which have been explored, are said to possess a 
strong and rich soil, and to be well calculated for ag- 
ricultural purposes. 

Most of the settlements are on the eastern bor- 
der of the territory, about Detroit, and upon the riv- 
er Raisin. Detroit is the principal settlement, and 
is an incorporated city. It possesses one of the 
best harbours upon the interior waters ; has a very 
advantageous location, and promises to become a 
large interior commercial town. ISext to Detroit 
in importance, are the new town of Munroe, on 
the river Raisin, and the village of Mackinaw, sit- 
uated on the island of the same name, in Lake 
Huron. The whole population of Michigan terri- 
tory, at the present time, may be estimated at a- 
bout 12,000, and it is rapidly increasing. 

The Indian country, which we have already noti- 
ced, in the north-western part of the state of Ohio, 



OLIVER M. PERRY. 217 

interposing between that state and the Michigan ter- 
ritory, when in the possession of the Indians, formed 
an almost insuperable barrier to the settlement of 
(his territory. But this barrier is now removed, and 
exertions are making to promote the settlement o' 
the territory. The Indian title to a considerable 
proportion of the land, has been extinguished, and 
large tracts are about to be brought into market.— 
From these considerations, and the known advanta- 
ges of the territory, it promises to receive an acces» 
sion to its population, which at no distant period, 
will render it a respectable member of the confede 
racy. 

The extensive country west of lake Michigan, and 
south of lake Superior, extending to the Blississippij 
comprises that part of the immense region which ori- 
ginally constituted the north-western territory, which 
is not comprised in the states that have been formed 
within the limits of that territory. It lies north of 
the state of Illinois, extending north to lake Superi- 
or, and is now attached to the territorial government 
of Michigan. This extensive region, comprises near- 
ly 150,000 square miles. It has an extensive lake 
border on the north and east, is washed by the Mis- 
sissippi on the west, and its interior is watered by nu- 
merous rivers, some of which are large and afford 
important navigable advantages. Of these the Ouis- 
consin, which communicates with the Mississippi, 
and the Fox river, which discharges its waters into 
TO 



218 LIFE OF 

Green Bay, upon the western border of lake Micia- 
gan, are the most considerable. Both of these riv- 
ers are distinguished for the extensive and unequal- 
led advantages which they afford for navigation, hav- 
ing more the character of inland canals, than that of 
rivers, and from the circumstances of their courses 
being such as to nearly open a communication be- 
tween lake Michigan and the Mississippi. The bor- 
ders of these rivers present a beautiful and interest- 
ing country. 

This extensive territory unites the advantages of a 
healthy climate, abundant waters, and in general, an 
excellent soil ; and although its location is not such 
as to promote an immediate and rapid settlement, 
yet from its numerous advantages, and the enter- 
prize and perseverance of our citizens, in tiie forma- 
tion of new settlements, not many years can elapse 
before it will become an important member of the 
American Union. 

Having taken a view of tiie country upon the 
American side of lake Erie, which was either the 
seat of the operations of the war, or reheved from 
its evils and the horrors of Indian hostility, by the na- 
val victory of tlie lOth September, we will close our 
topographical descriptions, with a succinct account 
of the western disiiicfs in Upper Canada, bordering 
upon lake Eric, and which comprise the scenes of 
the closing event? of the war upon the north-wcsterR 
frontier. 



OLIVER K. 1-ERRY. i219 

Within tlife district, although belonging to the en- 
emy, the inhabitants were indebted to Perry for the 
restoration of the blessings of peace and security. — 
Yes, as strange as it nnay seem, the conquest of the 
country relieved the inhabitants from the evils of 
war, and restored tranquility to their borders. But 
it is to be remembered that this conquest was made 
by Hiirrison and Perry. This is a sufficient explana- 
tion of this enigma. — What a contrast between the 
situation of this district, when in the occupation of 
the Americans, and that of the territory of Michi 
gan, when occupied by the British. The inhabit- 
ants of the former having long been harrassed with 
the evils of war, and exposed to Indian violence and 
depredation, were by the termination of the war up- 
♦^n that frontier, and the pacification or dispersion of 
the Indians, relieved from these embarrassments^ 
and their persons and property, perhaps, more effec- 
tually protected, tlian wiiat they were before the oc- 
cupation of the country by the American troops. 

The victories of lake Erie and the Thames 
brought peace to the British north-western border? 
as well as to the American. And by the inhabitants 
of the British side of lake Erie, as well as by those 
of the 7\merican, Perry and Harrison might have 
been hailed as the " deliverers of the frontier." — 
Their conquest was not of the inhabitants, but of the 
British troops, and the hostile Indians ; tlie latter of 
which, are scarcely loss troublesome to the inliabit- 



hlFR OF 



ants of the country emplojing them, than to those 
upon the territory of the enemy. Their spirit of 
hostihty, which the war, aided by the exertions of 
ihe British had elicited, subsided, with the expiring 
Tiote of British cannon upon the Thames. After this 
event, they were disposed to bury the tomahawk, 
and retire to their hunting grounds. 

The Canadians upon this frontier, as well as the 
Americans on the other side of the lake, were no 
longer harrassed by Indian depredation and outrage. 
They had no claims to protection from the express 
provisions of articles of capitulation, as had the in- 
habitants of Detroit. But they did not want this. 
They had a much better guarantee in the integrity, 
the honour, and the humanity of their conquerors. 
They fell into the hands of Harrison and Perry. It 
is not necessary to contrast this picture, with that of 
the territory of Michigan, whilst occupied by the 
British. We have already enlarged sufficiently up- 
on the shocking scenes which occurred within that 
territory, and we have no disposition to repeat the 
horrid detail — It is too revolting to the feelings of 
humanity. But did we wish to present the one in 
contrast with the other, we could not do it more 
strikingly than hy saying, that the one fell into the 
hands of Harrison and Perry, and the other into 
those of Proctor, 

We extract from the same author from whom wc 
have copied the fkscripfiori of the waters of the St. 



OLIVER H. PERSY. 221 

Lawrence, and the interior lakes, the following el- 
egant, yet concise sketch of the western district of 
Upper Canada. 

'• Along the northern part of the Niagara district 
runs a ridge called the Queenstown heights, stretch- 
ing across the river Niagara, and away eastward into 
the state of New- York ; the altitude of this range in 
any part of it, does not exceed 160 yards above the 
surface of the lake, (Ontario.) This space, contain- 
ing the Newcastle, the Home, and the Niagara dis- 
tricts, is watered by a great number of streams, both 
large and small, that greatly contribute to its fc itili- 
iy. In the latter dii^trict is the Wclland, formerly 
called the Chippewa, a beautiful river, flowing thro' 
a remarkable fertile country, for about forty miles, 
and wholly unobstructed by falls ; also the Ouse, or 
Grand river, a stream of much greater magnitude, 
rising in the interior of the country, towards lake 
Huron, and after winding a long and picturesque 
course, falls into lake Erie : across its mouth there is 
a bar, but always with eight het water upon it. It 
is navigable for sniall vessels from the lake many 
miles upwards, and for boats to a much greater dis- 
tance. 

" The land through the whole of the last mention- 
ed district, is uncommonly lich and fertile, with a 
considerable portion of very flourishing settlements 
upon it. From the river Ouse, proceedinir along the 
shore of lake Erie, up to the lake and river St. Ciaii% 

19* 



22^2 LIFE OF 

the whole space is remarkably even, with scarcely a 
league of it but what displays excellent situations for 
settlements, and in spots where the land is already 
under tillage. Finer crops, or more thriving farms 
are not to be met with in any part of either prov- 
ince. 

*' The portion of the western district, lying be- 
tween lake Erie and lake St. Clair, is perhaps the 
most delightful of all the province. The fertility of 
the soil, the richly diversified and luxurient beauties 
that every where court the view, the abundant varie- 
ty of excellent fish that teem in the rivers, and the 
profusion of game of different species that enliven the 
woods, the thickets and the meadows, combine to in- 
sure a preference to this highly favoured tract for the 
establishment of new settlements. 

'' From the Ouse to lake St. Clair, the space is oc- 
cupied by the London and Western districts ; it is 
watered by many small streams falling into lake Erie, 
besides the river Chenal Ecarte, and the exquisitely 
picturesque river Thames, formerly called the riviere 
a la Franche. The latter rises far in the interior, 
about the township of Blandford, and after pursuing a 
serpentine course in a direction nearly south-west, 
discharges itself into lake St, CJair. It is navigable 
for vessels full twenty miles from its mouth, and for 
boats and canoes, nearly up to its source, but little 
less than one hundred miles. The river Chenal 
Ecarte runs almost parallel to the Thames, at about 



OLIVER H. PERRV. 223 

ten miles from it, and also falls into lake St. Clair, 
The portions now described, are those only that are 
more or less settled upon. In the rear of the town-? 
ships are large tracts of land stretching far to the 
northward, covered with immense forests, and little 
known except to the Indians ; but it has been ascer- 
tained that there are many wide spreading extents of 
rich and fertile soil, particularly bordering upon the 
south-west bank of the Ottawa river. Through 
these regions, as yet unexplored by civilized man, 
there are many streams, and some of great size that 
flow both into lake Huron and into the Ottawa river, 
but none of them have been sufficiently traced to ad- 
mit of being delineated on any map. Timber in al- 
most every variety, is found in the greatest profu- 
sion ; the oak, beech, walnut, (hickory) ash, maplcj 
elm, pine, sycamore, birch, and many other sorts, are 
of peculiar excellence, and of capital dimensions. — 
The chmate is so peculiarly salubrious, that epidem- 
ic diseases, either amongst men or cattle, are almost 
unknown ; its influence upon the fertiHty of the soil 
is more generally perceptible than it is in Lower 
Canada, and supposed to be congenial to vegetation 
in a much superior degree. The winters are short- 
er, and not always marked with such rigour as in the 
latter ; the duration of the frost is always occompa- 
nied with a fine clear sky, and a dry atmosphere ; the 
spring opens, and the resumption of agricultural la- 
bour takes place from six weeks to two months earli- 



224 LIFE OF 

er than what it does in the neighbourhood of Quebec. 
The summer heats rarely prevail to excess, and the 
autumns are usually very friendly to the harvests, and 
favourable for securing all the late crops. In fact, 
upon so good a soil, and under such a climate, indus- 
try and an increase of population are only wanting to 
render this colony flourishing and happy/' 



OLIVER H. PERRV. '22l 



CHAPTER VJ. 



The licioryofthe \Oth September, occasions a general rejoiciiig 
throughout the Union — the illumination at Philadelphia-^ 
Perry promoted to the rank of Captain in the navy— He pro- 
ceeds fi'om Buffalo to Albany-^tribute of respect shewn to him 
at that place— proceeds thence to Newport, where he is receiV' 
ed with admiration — a gold medal presented to him by order of 
Congress — Perry leaves Newport for Washington — public 
dinner given him in New-York — also at the seat of govern-' 
ment — a most splendid entertainment given in honour of him 
on his return, at Baltimore — is assigned to command on the 
Newport station — public dinner given in honour of him at Bos* 
ton — assists a Sivedish brig at Newport — visits the eastern coast 
— after the capture of Washington, Perry repaired thither-^ 
commanded a battery to annoy the enemy in going down the 
river — is at Baltimore at the attack upon that place— -is ap- 
pointed to superintend the equipment of the Java. 

We have now done with the north-western fron- 
tier, having reviewed the events of the war in that 
quarter, which preceded and followed the memora- 
ble victory upon lake Erie; given an ample and mi- 
nute account of that victory ; noticed its consequen- 
ces upon the north-western border, and concluded 
with a topographical view of the interior waters 
which were the scene of the glory of our hero, and 
such portions of the country bordering upon them, as 



226 LIFE OF 

were in a more eminent degree, relieved from the 
evils of war, and the horrors of Indian outrage. We 
have examined, and, perhaps, with an amplitude 
which some may consider unnecessary, the conse- 
quences of the victory of the 10th Septemher, and 
the effect which it had upon the pubhc mind, in that 
section of the country ; but before resuming the nar» 
ration of the remaining events in the hfe of Perry, it 
may perhaps, be proper to alUide to the national ef- 
fect of this victory. 

We shall not be thought extravagant, it is believ- 
ed, in saying, that no national event since the cap- 
ture of Cornwallis, in 1781, diffused such universal 
joy throughout the country, as the victory upon lake 
Erie. This was not more owing to the importance 
of the event, than to the state of the public mind at 
the time it occurred. A strange fatality seemed to 
have attended the operation of our arms upon that 
frontier, which baffled all the exertions of the gov- 
ernment ; and for a period of fifteen months, the 
public had witnessed a series of disappointments and 
disasters, almost unexampled in the history of our 
country. And these adverse occurrences were the 
more afflicting, from their not having been foreseen, 
or scarcely thouglit within the compass of events, 
which fairly belong to the vicissitudes of war. 

Canada was first invaded from the north-western 
frontier, and from the limited means of the enemy, 
it was then supposed that all the north-western dis- 



OLIVER H. PERRV. 22? 

tricts, if not the whole of the Upper Province, would 
have fallen an easy conquest to our arms. But in- 
stead of this, the pubHc had the mortification to wit- 
ness the surrender, without an effort, of this invading 
arniy, followed by a long train of disasters, and to 
behold a large section of our own territory wrested 
fronn the Republic, and exposed to the insolence and 
barbarity of a savage foe. 

These disastrous events, which cast a gloom over 
the Rorth-wcstern border, excited a deep solicitude 
throughout the Union. Nothing but the demon of 
faction, could have benumbed the sympathies of our 
citizens in any part of the Union, for their brethren 
on this devoted frontier. The British openly declar- 
ed their designs of severing, forever, from the Re- 
public, that interesting portion of our territory which 
had fallen into their hands 5 and many of our en- 
lightened citizens who anticipated with pleasure, 
the progress and extension of new settlements, in 
the national domains of the west, beheld with deep 
concern, a state of things calculated to arrest, if not 
permanently to destroy these cheering prospects. 
Not only the sentiments of patriotism, but the bonds 
of friendship, and the ties of consanguinity, were cal- 
culated to awaken the national sensibility and soli- 
citude. From the diffusive spirit of emigration 
which has long prevailed among us, almost every 
town in the Atlantic states, has contributed towards 
the rapidly increasing populationof the western sec- 



228 LIFE OF 

tion of the United States, and consequently the in- I 
habitants of that portion of our country, have nume- 
rous friends and relatives in the Atlantic states. 

From these, and other circumstances, the disasters 
upon the north-western frontier, which spread a 
gloom through the western country, produced a seri- 
ous effect throughout the Union. They awakened 
the sympathies, aroused the patriotism, and alarmed 
the apprehensions of all good citizens. The patri- 
ot, who had anticipated with satisfaction, the success 
of our arms, could not cast his eyes to the west and 
behold the long succession of disasters which had vis- 
ited that border, and the consequences attendant up- 
on them, without mortification and affliction, and 
scarcely without despondency. Under such circum- 
stances as these, some great national event w^as want- 
ed to revive the public spirit, to restore the national 
confidence, encourage patriotism, confirm the wa- 
vering, dispel the fears of the despondent, support 
the national credit, and strengthen the arm of the 
government. It was at this critical conjuncture, that 
the victory upon lake Erie occurred. No wonder it 
electrified the country with joy, and enlivened the 
countenance of every patriotic citizen. No wonder 
the hero of this victory was hailed as the deliverer of 
the frontier — the "conqueror of the conquerors of 
Europe," and as the brightest star in the resplend- 
ant galaxy of the American naval heroes. No won- 
der this victory communicated a ray of joy to every 



OLIVER H. TERRY. 259 

American bosom 5 and occasioned throughout the 
country, every visible testimonial of public rejoicing. 
In all our principal cities, illuminations took place, ac- 
companied with other demonstrations of joy, admira- 
tion and gratitude. All felt the animating influence 
of a victory, so splendid in its character, and so im- 
portant in its consequences. All participated 
in the general joy. — The merchant laid aside his ledg^ 
er, the mechanic the implements of his trade, the 
man of business suspended his exertions, the labourer 
bis toil, and the speculator forgot, for a moment, his 
golden dreams ; all uniting in one common testimony 
of joy and gratitude. And the fair, justly appreciating 
the occasion, and forgetting the allurements of other 
objects, and the blandishments of personal admiration, 
contributed to enliven the general scene of rejoicing. 
The illumination in Philadelphia, is deserving of 
particular notice. It took place on the evening of the 
24th September. On no previous occasion, have 
the citizens of this populous and patriotic city, dis- 
played so much zealj unanimity and spirit, in the 
manifestation of their joy and gratitude, for any na- 
tional event. As the victory was considered as un- 
exampled in the annals of our country, so the splen- 
dour of the celebration was unequalled. The admi- 
ration of the splendid achievement, and of the hero 
of it, was universal. All classes was anxious to par- 
ticipate in the general joy, and to unite in an ex- 
pression of the sense they felt of the honour, which 
20 



230 LIFE OF 

this unequalled victory over a superior force, had 
conferred on the national character. All were eager 
to applaud the pre-eminent skill and valour by which 
it had been won. The name of Perry, appropriate- 
ly emblazoned in letters of fire, was conspicuously 
displayed, reminding the beholder of that cool intre- 
pidity and heroic decision, which, after having fought 
the Lawrence to a wreck and slaughter-house, car- 
ried him on board the Niagara ; when, seizing as if 
by inspiration, the moment which was to decide the 
fate of the action, he pierced the hostile Hne ; and, 
wrapped in a destructive blaze, compelled the British 
hero to surrender the entire squadron under his com- 
mand, to superior skill and valour; affording the most 
striking evidence of the justness of the prediction of 
the great Nelson, who, when speaking of the exploits 
of our squadron in the Mediterranean, observed that 
in these achievements of the infant navy of the Uni- 
ted States, he beheld the future decline of the mari^ 
time ascendency of England. 

Among other exhibitions of taste and style, were 
two transparent portraits of Washington, the father 
of his country, and the founder of her naval power ; 
which gave additional interest and lustre to the 
scene. 

Soon after the victory of the 10th of September, 
Perry was promoted to the rank of Captain in the I 
navy of the United States. 

After the termination of (he operations of the war 



OLIVER H. PERRY. -231 

oii the north-western frontier, Perry, in company 
with General Harrison, arrived at Buffalo, on the 
24th October, from whence he proceeded to Albany, 
v.here he arrived on the 8th November. Here he 
was received with every demonstration of respect 
and admiration. The Corporation and citizens uni- 
ted in paying a tribute of respect to the hero of Erie, 
for his ardent patriotism, and distinguished services. 
At 10 o'clock, A. M. the Common Council, and a 
large concourse of citizens, assembled, and proceed* 
ed on horseback, to Dow's tavern, on the Schenecta- 
dy road, where they received and escorted Commo- 
dore Perry into the city. On arriving in the western 
precincts of the city, a federal salute was iired, and 
the military, which had assembled for the purpose, 
formed in front, and proceeded with the escort to the 
capital, when, the military opening, the procession 
entered the hall, where the freedom of the city, in a 
gold case, and a sword which had been voted him by 
the Common Council, were presented to the gallant 
Commodore. The procession was then formed 
again, and proceeded to the Commodore's quarters, 
during which time the bells were rung, and another 
salute Ured. 

From Albany, Perry proceeded to his residence 
in Newport, Rhode-Island, where he was received 
with great respect, and the most cordial and friendly 
welcome. His friends and fellow-citizens, who had 
been acquainted with the r.mn, were filled with rap» 



232 LIFE OF 

tuie, on beholding the hero. All were anxious lu 
behold their fellow-citizen, who, like the hero of 
Rome, in the proudest days of her history, had re- 
rctured from the toils of war, and the vanquishing of 
the foes of his country, surrounded with a blaze of 
glory, and crowned with the laurels of immortality. 
He was accompanied on his arrival here, by his 
brother, and the four valiant tars who rowed the 
boat which conveyed him from the Lawrence to the 
Niagara, and who, as their brave Commodore was 
standing up in the open boat, (at which two broad- 
sides had been directed,) exposed to a shower of 
musketry, pulled him down by the skirt of his 
coat. 

In noticing the testimonials of respect and admira- 
tion which Perry received, we must not pass over 
that which came directly and officially from the rep- 
resentatives of the people. Soon after the com- 
mencement of the session which followed the victo- 
ry upon lake Erie, Congress adopted resolutions, ten- 
dering their thanks to Captain Perry, and through 
him, lO the officers, seamen and marines, attached 
to the squadron under his command, for the deci- 
cive and glorious victory on lake L.ric, over a Bri(=. 
ish squadron of superior force .3 and requesting the 
President io cause a gold medal to be struck, em- 
blematical of the action between the tv/o squadrons, 
Mid. presented to Captain Perry in such manner as 
might be most honourable to bim. In the same res- 



OLIVER H. PERRY. ^33 

olutions, the President was requested to present a 
gold medal to Captain Jesse D. Elliot, and a silver 
one, with suitable emblems and devices, to each of 
the commissioned officers, either of the navy or ar- 
my, serving on board, and a sword to each of the mid- 
shipmen and sailing masters who so nobly distinguish- 
ed themselves on that memorable day. 

Early in January, (1814,) Perry left Newport for 
the seat of government, and arrived in New- York, 
where, on the 11th, a splendid entertainment was 
given to him in Tammany Hall. On this occasion 
Perry gave a toast, which, considering the alarming 
spirit of faction, which unfortunately existed in one 
section of the country, is an honourable evidence of 
his principles and patriotism — It was " The Unionofthv 
States,^^ — Perry arrived at Washington previously to 
the 25th, on which day a splendid entertainment in 
honour of him, was provided in that city. Several 
of the high officers of the government, and many of 
the members of Congress, with a great number of the 
most distinguished citizens, were present on the oc- 
casion. 

Perry having remained a few days in the capital, 
left there to return to Newport. He arrived in Bal- 
timore on the 31st of January, and continued there 
the two succeeding days. The attentions and hon- 
ours which were bestowed upon him in this patriot-' 
ic city, are deserving of a particular detail* 



'20 



234 LIFE OF 

' On the evening of the 31st, he visited the circus, 
and that spacious building could not contain the vast 
crowd which collected to behold the hero of the 
Jakes. The house was filled before the entertaiment 
began, and when Perry entered, he was received 
with deep, loud, and continued acclamation. Oa 
(he following day, he was honoured with an enter- 
tainment, which, for bounteous profusion, elegance 
of style, judicious arrangements, and brilliancy and 
appropriateness of decorations, surpassed, it is be- 
lieved, any thing which has occurred in this country. 
The committee of arrangements consisted of some 
of the most distinguished citizens, whose united zeal 
and perseverance, aided by the taste and exertions 
of their fellow-citizens, produced a result which sur- 
prised and gratified all. The great room at Barney's 
-' Fountain Inn," was selected for the occasion. At 
the head of the room was a large transparent paint- 
Hig, reaching almost across the hall, representing the 
naval action upon lake Erie. The accomplished 
artist had happily seized that moment when Commo- 
dore Perry, " at forty-five minutes past two, having 
thrown out the signal for close action^ bore up in the 
Niagara and passed ahead of their two ships and a 
brig, giving a raking fire to them from the starboard 
guns, and to a large schooner and sloop from the lar- 
board side, at half pistol shot distance," decided the 
hite. of the action. The painting was executed in 
i^e style, and produced tlie most interesting and en- 



OLIVER H. fERRY. 235 

livening effect. At the head of the table was the 
representation of the stern of a ship, labelled " Niag- 
ara," on which, as on the quarter deck, were placed 
the President of the day, Edward Johnson, Esq., with 
the hero of Erie, and Commodores Barney and Lewis, 
and other officers of the navy, with several citizens. 
In front of them was raised, having the appearance 
of a great column, a bundle of eighteen arrows, rep- 
resenting the states of the Union, braced together by 
massive bands, on which were inscribed the names 
of Hull, Jones, Decatur, Bainbridge, Lawrence, 
Ludlow, Burrows, Allen, and Perry, in large letters 
of gold. A flag was suspended from a top-gallant 
mast and yard, which rose from the centre of the 
bundle of arrows, with an inscription, *' we have met 
the enemy and they are oursP The pedestal was or- 
namented with naval emblems and wreaths, and the 
American Eagle was suspended over the whole, 
bearing in his beak a scroll, with the motto, " a nU'- 
iioii^s gratitude is the hero'' s best rewarJ," which was 
so contrived and managed that, with outstretched 
wings, it occasionally passed over the company. — 
The American " striped bunting," bespangled with 
stars, was suspended as curtains at the windows, and 
in whatever direction the eye turned, it fell on some 
object calculated to delight the sense, to awaken na- 
tional pride, and gratify the patriotic enthusiasm 
which the occasion had excited. Amcng the toasts 
was the following : " The iO\h of Septembr, 1813-^ 



236 LIFE OF 

rendered memorable in the annals otour country by 
the decisive and glorious victory on lake Erie." 
When this was announced, the music which usually 
followed, was silent, and a pause ensued that was bro- 
ken by the beat of a drum from behind the transpar- 
ency, which directed the eyes of all to that quarter, 
when suddenly, down came the British flag from the 
enemy's ship in the fore ground of the picture, and 
instantly the full band struck up the national salute of 
Yankee Doodle, and immediately the British flag was 
hoisted under the American ensign. This, not hav- 
ing been understood but by few of the company, ex- 
cited a surprise and interest truly indescribable.* 

From Baltimore Perry returned to Newport, hav- 
ing at that time a command on that station. He con- 
tinued in this command during the spring and sum- 
mer following ; but the situation was not calculated 
to add to the reputation of the hero of the lakes ; and 
there being little occasion for the employment of his 
personal services, this was in a great measure a peri- 
od of repose. 

The brave, the active, and the enterprising are not 
always to be employed. And when the service with 
which a man is entrusted, is finished, then is the 
proper season for him to cease from his labours. If 
ever an individual perfectly finished the work confid- 
ed to his care, it was Perry in his command upon lake 

* Niles' Ke£ister, 5tb vol. page 398. 



t;>LlVEll H. PERRY. 237 

Erie. Having filled the continent with the glory of 
his achievements, and rendered his fame co-exten- 
sive with the knowledge of his country, it was just 
that these events should be followed by a period of 
repose, and that he should be permitted to enjoy in 
tranquility the fruits of his services and valour — the 
admiration and gratitude of his country. These, 
f' the hero's best reward," few individuals have deser- 
ved or enjoyed to a greater extent than Perry. 

Among the public testimonials of esteem and grat- 
itude which he received during this interval, an en- 
tertainment given in honour of him at Boston, on the 
10th of May, is deserving of particular notice. 

This celebrated town which, during the American 
revolution, acted so distinguished and honourable a 
part, was, during the late war, distinguished for a very 
different course of conduct. At the former period, 
it was the focus and the original source of the nation- 
al spirit — that spirit which is roused into action by a 
sense of wrongs, and the love of liberty — which gave 
birth to our Independence, converted citizens into 
soldiers, sustained the country during an arduous and 
unequalled contest of eight years, and finally crown- 
ed its efforts with success. But during the latter pe- 
]iod, this spirit seems to have fled from this metrop- 
olis of New-England ; and Boston, instead of being 
(he focus of patriotism, to have unfortunately become 
the centre of faction. Where the voice of Adams 
and Hancock was once heard in defence of the rights 



238 LIFE OF 

of their injured country, and to awaken a spirit of re- 
sistance to lawless power, had succeeded the lan- 
guage, " that it was unbecoming a moral and reli- 
gious people to rejoice at the success of the national 
arms, in an unjust and ruinous war.* But these sen- 
timents, so derogatory to the high character which 
this town had long sustained, were, it is believed? 
confined to a few, and even with these, they ought, 
perhaps, to be regarded as the effusions of that mo- 
mentary infatuation which the violence of party spir- 
it often produces. That this was the case, and tha^ 
the citizens of this town generally, felt a deep sohci- 
citude for the prosperity of the country, and for the 
success and honour of the national arms, is evinced 
by the fact which is here noticed — the splendid en- 
tertainment given in honour of Com. Perry, and 
as a testimony of admiration and gratitude for the 
brilliant victory upon lake Erie. Yet, considering 
the infatuation of certain influential individuals, and 
the spirit of opposition to the war, which they had 
excited and maintained, the honour conferred upon 
Commodore Perry at Boston, cannot but be regard- 
ed as a striking evidence of the universal admiration, 
joy and gratitude, which the victory of the 10th of 
September occasioned. Those who regarded the 
war as unjust as well as inexpedient, could not with- 

*These sentiments if not precisely the I ingnage, were ron- 
tainetl in a lesolulipn introdnced into (be Senale of M^ssacb'r- 
sett$< 



OLIVER B. PERRY* 93S 

hold their admiration of the distinguished braverj 
and skill displayed in its prosecution. At any rate 
they could not withhold it from Perry. 

Among the toasts drank on this occasion was the 
following :—" The 10th of September, 1813— the 
day on which a splendid column was added in the na- 
val temple of our country — on its entablature is in- 
scribed, " we have met the eneiny and they are ours»^^ 

Subsequently to this, Perry received several pie» 
ces of plate voted him by the people of Boston. 
The large pieces were inscribed, on one side : " Sep- 
tember 10th, 1813, signalized our first triumph in 
squadron : a very superior British force on lake 
Erie was entirely subdued by Commodore O. H. 
Perry ; whose gallantry in action is equalled only by 
his humanity in victory." On the other side, " Pre- 
sented in honour of the victor, by the citizens of 
Boston." The small pieces were inscribed on one 
side, *' Commodare O. H. Perry conquered the 
enemy on lake Erie, September 10th, 1013 ;" and 
on the other, " Presented by the citizens of Boston." 
These testimonials of respect and admiration of the 
achievements of Perry, were not more honourable 
to him, than to the citizens who bestowed them, as 
they were calculated to do away the injurious im- 
putations to which the intemperate zeal of a few 
partizans, had exposed their fellow citizens. 

On the 30th of May, a Swedish brig was chased 
into the east passage at Newport, and run ashore, by 



240 LIFE OF 

the boats of a British vessel of war. Perry, on re- 
ceiving this information, immediately ordered a de- 
tachment of seamen, with a six pounder, to the as- 
sistance of the brig. They were also accompanied 
by a company of militia. The next morning, the 
British brig Nimrod stood close in shore, drove the 
people outof the Swedish vessel, under the cover of 
her guns, and succeeded in boarding and setting her 
on fire. The militia, a considerable number of which 
bad collected, with two 12 pounders, advancing, and 
two gun boats at the same time making thejr appear- 
ance, the enemy precipitately left their anchorage 
and stood out to sea. Fortunately the arrival of 
the militia and the gun boats, was in season to save 
the brig, which, the fire having been extinguished, 
was got off, and most of her cargo saved. 

During this summer, (1814,) the eastern coast of 
the United States was greatly harrassed by the ene- 
my. They destroyed a considerable proportion of 
the coasting craft which ventured to sea, and entered 
Bome of the out ports, and committed depredations 
and outrages upon the maritime villages. In conse- 
quence of this predatory warfare of the enemy, Perry 
proceeded to the eastward. He was at Wiscassett, 
the latter part of June, when the enemy made an at- 
tempt upon that place, and by his active exertions and 
the alacrity with which the inhabitants collected on 
the occasion, he succeeded in repelling them. The 



OLIVKjR H. PERRiT. 241 

enemy made several unsuccessful attacks upon other 
places. 

Under date of the 2 1st of June, Commodore Per- 
ry received a communication signed by sundry re- 
spectable inhabitants of the town of Wareham, Mas- 
sachusetts, containing a statement of the landing and 
depredations of the British at that place. It appears 
from this statement, that six barges, one of them 
having a white flag hoisted, were seen approaching 
the village, upon which a flag of truce was also hoist- 
ed upon the wharf. When the barges arrived, the 
commanding officer agreed that if he was not fired 
on by the inhabitants, all private property should be 
held inviolable, but that he should destroy what pub- 
lic property could be found. But instead of this, 
although there was no pretence that they were at- 
tacked or fired upon by the inhabitants, having land- 
ed a part of their men, they immediately proceeded 
to destroy private property. They set fire to a vessel 
on the stocks, to five others at anchor, and to a cot' 
ton factory. On being reminded of (heir engage- 
ments, that they had landed under the sacred char= 
acter of a flag of truce, and deceived the inhabitants 
by false promises, the only answer they returned 
was a threat to set fire to the village, and put the in- 
habitants to the sword, if they made any resistance^ 
or even attempted to extinguish the fires. On re> 
turning to their barges, they seized twelve of the cit- 
izens, and took them on board, declaring, that if they 

n 



242 LIFE or 

were fired upon by the inhabitants, they would put 
them to death. Having made the necessary arrange- 
ments for leaving the harbour, the flag of truce was 
again hoisted, and the perpetrators of these disgrace- 
ful outrages, returned under the same cover and 
protection they entered. The men were landed 
about three miles below the village. 

The communication ofthese transactions was made 
to Commodore Perry, for the purpose of being trans- 
mitted to the Secretary of the Navy, which he accor- 
dingly did. 

The sudden incursion of the enemy, and capture 
ofthe city of Washington, on the 24th of August, in- 
duced Commodore Perry, who always stood in rea- 
diness to " meet the enemy," wherever they might 
appear, to repair thither. The action at Bladens- 
burgh, which took place at about 1 o'clock, P. M. 
on the 24th, having resulted in the retreat of the 
American troops, the enemy advanced to the capi- 
tal, without experiencing further opposition. In this 
unfortunate action, the American force consisted of 
about five thousand men, all of whom, with the ex- 
ception of three hundred and fifty regulars, and Com- 
modore Barney's command, were militia, hastily 
collected, many of them having arrived on the ground 
after the enemy were in sight. The enemy's force 
was estimated at more than 5,000, consisting of regu- 
lars, marines and seamen. That a contest under such 
circumstances as these, should have resulted unfa- 



OLIVER H. PERRY, 243 

vourably to the Americans, cannot be a matter of 
surprise ; yet it was to have been expected that they 
would have made a more firm resistance than they 
did, and that they would have continued to annoy and 
harrass the enemy, who, with so inconsiderable a 
force, had penetrated so far into the country, and 
from the intense heat, and the distance they had march- 
ed, must have been greatly fatigued and exhausted. 
The brave Commodore Barney, the hero of two 
wars, with his patriotic band of voluateers, made a 
gallant stand, and for some time resisted with the 
most destructive effect, the march of the enemy. 
The Commodore was wounded and taken prisoner. 
History will record, that on this day, (the 24th Au- 
gust 1814,) a body of British troops, under the com- 
mand of General Ross, having possessed themselves 
of the city of Washington, with the true spirit of Van- 
dalism, set fire to, and destroyed the Capital, the 
President's house, and the public offices ; edifices, 
no way connected with the means of war, but which 
were monuments of the arts, and which have been 
respected by all civilized nations, when the fortune 
of war hath placed them in the power of an enemy. 
Several private buildings were also destroyed, and 
many of the citizens mal-treated. The navy yard 
was destroyed by our own officers, after learning that 
the enemy was in possession of the city. On the 
evening of the 25th, the enemy retreated precipi^ 



.;*'i'i LITR OF 

lately from the city, leaving most of their killed and 
wounded behind. 

Soon after these events, several of our niost dis- 
linguished naval officers, among whonn were Rogers, 
Porter and Perry, arrived in Washington. After the 
retreat from Washington, a part of the naval force 
of the enemy went up the Potomac, as far as Alexan- 
dria, and threatened the destruction of that town, 
the abandonment and destruction effort W^arburton, 
having removed all obstructions to their passage up 
the river. Considering the town as defenceless, and 
to preserve it from destruction, the inhabitants were 
induced to agree to the most disgraceful capitulation. 
All naval and ordnance stores, both public and pri- 
vate, were to be delivered to the enemy, together 
with all the shipping in the harbour, including the 
vessels wliich had been sunk, which the inhabitants 
were to raise, and all merchandize, of every descrip- 
tion, including what had been removed since the 1 9th 
of Aup[;iist, wiien the squadron passed the Kettle Bot- 
toms. Refreshments of every description were to 
be supplied the ships, and paid for at the market 
price, by bills on the British government. 

These extraordinary articles, remind us very mucli 
of the treaty of peace, which was concluded between 
diaries the XII. of Sweden, and Augustus, King of 
Poland, and Elector of Saxony. Charles having dis- 
possessed Augustus of his Kingdom, and caused Stan- 
Tt^^a'j?. to be elected, crowned and acknov/ledged^ 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 245 

Augustus, betrayed and abandoned by his own sub- 
jects, fearing the loss of his hereditary dominions, 
and apprehending greater evils from his powerful 
and dangerous ally, Peter of Muscovy, than from his 
implacable enemy and conqueror, was induced to 
sue for peace. The terms of the conqueror were, 
that Augustus should renounce all pretensions to the 
kingdom of Poland, acknowledge Stanislaus, deliv- 
er up Patkul, the Czar's embassador, Sic. But in 
addition to these severe and humiliating terms, he 
insisted that Augustus should write a letter with his 
own hand, to his rival, congratulating him on his ac- 
cession to the throne, which he himself had just beea 
compelled to abandon. 

After the inhabitants of Alexandria had been for- 
ced to agree to permit the enemy to take, or rather 
plunder every thing they had, but their houses and fur- 
niture, it must liave been not a little humiliating, that 
they should have been compelled to furnish supplies, 
and feed this enemy. 

Whilst the enemy were employed at Alexandria, 
in securing their plunder, preparations were made to 
annoy them on their going down the river. Commo- . 
dore Rogers proceeded down the Potomac, on the 
3d September, with three small fire vessels, under 
the protection of four barge s or cutters, manned with 
about sixty seamen, armed with muskets, destined 
against two of the enemy's frigates, and and a bomb 
ship, which lay about two and a half miles below Al- 



246 



LIFE OF 



exandria. From the failure of the wind, this enter- 
prize did not succeed. On the next day, Commo- 
dore Rogers had another fire vessel prepared, with a 
view to destroy a bomb ship of the enemy, but this 
attempt proved equally unsuccessful. Captain Por- 
ter erected a lemporary battery at the White House, 
on the west bajik of the Potomac, to attempt the 
annoyance and destruction of the enemy's vessels as 
they proceeded down the river. Porter was aided 
by a considerable body of militia, and several officers, 
as volunteers. On the 4th and 5th, the enemy kept 
up a constant fire upon the battery, and at night land- 
ed, with the intention of spiking the guns, but were 
repulsed. On the 6th, as the enemy's force moved 
down the river, a severe and well directed fire of hot 
shot was kept up ])y the battery, which was warmly 
returned by the enemy. After sustaining the contest 
for more than one hour, and the whole force of the 
anemy being concentrated to bear upon him, the gal» 
lant Porter, with his brave volunteers, retired, no|^ 
being willing to make a useless sacrifice. Porter's 
battery annoyed the enemy considerably, but could 
not prevent their getting oifwith their plunder. The 
gallant party sustained a loss of several killed and 
wounded. Commodore Perry commanded a battery 
at Indian-Head, below that at the White House. — 
The cannon were of too small a calibre to make 
much impression on the enemy as they descended 
the river. 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 247 

One eighteen pounder, which arrived only thirty 
minutes before the firing comnnenced, and was badly 
supplied with ammunition, was the only gun that 
could be used with much effect. In addition to the 
battery, several field pieces kept up a very spirited 
fire ; but they were also of too small a calibre to pro- 
duce a very important effect. The ammunition of 
the eighteen pounder, and several of the sixes, being 
expended, and the fire of the enemy from two frigates, 
two sloops, and a number of other small vessels, 
having become very heavy, it was thought advisable 
to leave the battery, and retire a short distance in 
the rear, which was done in good order, after hav- 
ing sustained the enemy's fire for more than an hour. 
The advantageous position occupied by Perry, pre- 
vented the enemy from doing his party much injury ; 
none were killed, and only one man wounded. 

The enemy having gone down the river, and being 
out of the reach of all annoyance, Rogers and Per- 
ry immediately repaired to Baltimore, it being ex- 
pected that the enemy would shortly visit that 
place. 

On the morning of the 11 th of September, the en- 
emy's fleet, consisting of forty or fifty vessels, ap- 
peared off the mouth of the Patapsco river. Some 
of the vessels entered the river, and others proceed- 
ed to North-Point, and the following night commen- 
ced the debarkation of their troops, which was com- 
pleted early the next morniDg, In the mean time, 



^48 LIFE OP 

the frigates which had been previously lightened, 
the bomb-ketches and small vessels approached, and 
arranged themselves in line of battle, to cannonade 
the fort and town. The ships of the line lay off 
North-Point to cover and protect the whole force. 
The enemy landed about 9,000 men, consisting of 
5,000 soldiers, under Major General Ross, and about 
4,000 marines and seamen, commanded by the fa- 
mous Admiral Cockburn. They advanced about 
four miles without any opposition, where they were 
met by a force of 3,200 men, consisting of General 
Strieker's brigade, and several companies of volun- 
teers, most of which were from Pennsylvania. The 
rest of the troops which had been collected for the 
defence of the place, were stationed in the rear, and 
at the various defences. As the enemy advanced, 
about two o'clock, P. M. the artillery opened a de» 
structive fire upon them, which was returned from 
two nine pounders, and the action soon became 
general along the front line, consisting of the oth and 
27th regiments. A warm and destructive fire was 
kept up by these two regiments and the artillery^ 
for about an hour, when, on the enemy's attempting 
to turn their flank, they reluctantly retired, falling 
back towards the city. Not more than 1,700 of the 
American troops, were actually engaged in this ac- 
tion ; but they behaved with great gallantry, and 
fired with remarkable steadiness and effect,, taking 
deliberate aij^n, which mowed down the ranks of the 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 249 

enemy with great carnage. The British advanced 
alowly, and the next day approached within two miles 
of the American entrenchments. Measures were 
taken to intercept them, and punish their temerity, 
but before the plans could be put in execution, the 
British suspecting what was going on, decamped sud- 
denly in the night, and embarked with such precipi- 
tation, that although they were closely pursued, a 
few prisoners only were taken. 

The attack upon fort M'Henry was terribly grand 
and magnificent. Fort M'Henry is situated about 
two miles from the city. On the 12th, the enemy's 
vessels were stationed in front of the works, in form 
of a great semi-circle, but at a respectful distance, 
being oat of the reach of the guns. The next morn- 
ing, six bombs and several rocket vessels, commen- 
ced an attack upon the fort, (keeping, however, at a 
respectful distance,) which was continued until 3 o'- 
clock in the afternoon, when the enemy approached 
near the works, which gave the garrison an apportu- 
nity of trying the efficacy of their batteries. A most 
tremendous fire was opened upon them, which, in a 
{ew moments, occasioned them to slip their cables 
and wear off. The following night, several bomb 
and rocket vessels, and a number of barges, manned 
with 1,200 picked men, undercover of the darkness, 
passed fort M'Henry, and proceeded up the Pataps- 
co, to assail the fort and town in the rear. They 
gave three cheers, and began to throw their missiles, 



^50 LIFE OF 

bombs, shells, &c. But their cheering was quickly 
turned to groaning, and cries of distress from the 
wounded and the drowning. The forts M'Henry, 
Covington, the the Lazaretto, the city battery, and 
the barges, opened the most tremendous and destruc- 
tive fire upon them. The scene was awfully grand 
and sublime. Such a sheet of fire, and such a tre- 
mendous cannonading, had never before been wit- 
nessed. The heavens appeared to be lighted with 
flame, and all to be one continued explosion, for half 
an hour. Rogers' crew at fort Covington, and Bar- 
ney's flotilla-men at the city battery, maintained the 
high reputation which they had previously acquired. 
Amidst this scene of destruction, the enemy, batter- 
ed and crippled, retired with precipitation, the dark- 
ness of the night and their ceasing to fire, which was 
the only guide our people had, prevented their anni- 
hilation. The enemy paid dearly for his temerity in 
this affair. Their loss must have been very severe. 
Two of their barges were found sunk, with a number 
of dead in them. The loss sustained by the garri- 
sons was trifling, only four killed and twenty woun- 
ded. 

Never were an expedition and the hopes of mili- 
tary achievement and fame, more completely de- 
feated. The British Admiral had calculated on tak- 
ing the fort in two hours, and spoke of its surrender 
as a matter of course. When that was dono, and the 
shipping destroyed, he observed, " he would talk 

m 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 2al 

about terms for the city." General Ross, who had 
just returned from the spoils of Washington, who had 
declared his intention of destroying every town upon 
our sea board, and of fixing his winter quarters at 
Baltimore ; who " did not care if it rained militia" — 
the redoubtable General Ross, who commenced his 
career of vandal warfare so successfully ; who had 
such confidence in his own strength, and such con- 
tempt for his enemies, fell early in the action. His 
fall was probably the immediate cause of the retreat 
of the enemy.* The sun of his military glory, which 
at Washington he supposed, shone with full meridi- 
an splendour, at Baltimore, and after the lapse of a 
a few days only, set in darkness* 

The disastrous result of this attack upon Baltimore 
by a formidable land and naval force, flushed with 
victory, and confident of success, adds another to the 
many evidences which the history of human affairs 
has furnished, that it does not belong to man to boast 
of his strength or achievements, and much less to in- 
dulge in sentiments o( contempt for others. The to- 
tal loss of the enemy was supposed to have been 7 or 
800 men — that of the Americans was only 20 killed, 
and about 140 wounded, prisoners and missing. 

Among the objects which the enemy calculated 
would signalize their success at Baltimore, was the 
destruction of the Java, which was then building at 
that place. It had been launched in August, prece- 

*Nites' Register, vo!. 7, page 24. 



I- 



UM ■ LIFE OF 

ding. It is supposed that the name of this frigate w&b 
not very agreeable to the British, as some how or 
other, it reminded them of a British frigate of the 
same name, which was captured and sunk by Com- 
modore Bainbridge. 

The Java was equipped and fitted for service un- 
der the direction and superintendance of Commodore 
Perry, who was designated for that purpose. He, 
however, still continued to command on the New- 
port station, and remained a considerable propor- 
tion of his time, with his family and friends in that 
interesting town. In January following, be receiv- 
ed an honourable and gratifying testimony of the re- 
spect and admiration of his fellow-citizens of New- 
port. It was the presentation of an elegant silver 
vase, of the largest size, surmounted by an Eagle, 
and embellished with appropriate emblematic figures 
aod inscriptions. 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 253 



CHAPTER VIL 



The Java, is brought to Newport — Perry asshts in rescuing ship- 
jvrecked seamen — sails in the Jam for the Mediterranean— dif- 
ference between the United States andthe Regency of Algiitrs — 
hostile proceedings of the latter in 1^12— United States declare 
war in 1315— Decatur* s squadron arrived at Gibraltar in 
May, same year — capture of an Algerine frigate and brig-^ 
a negociation follows — a treaty concluded — the squadron pro- 
ceeds to Tunis—thence to Tripoli — the ratified copy of the 
treaty carried out by the Java — was at first rejected by the 
Dey, who became greatly enraged-^dispute between Commo' 
dore Perry and Captain Heath—another treaty concluded witk 
the Dey by Commodore Chauncey-^ Perry in the Java returns 
*o the United States — duel between Perry and Heath — in 1819, 
Perry sails for the Orinoco — incidents of that voyage — re" 
marks on the country, government, S{c.— proceeds to Port 
Spain — his death and burial. 

Commodore Perry continued to command on 
the Newport station, and to superintend the equip- 
ping of the Java, and fitting her for service, during 
the year 1815. The Java, under the command of 
Perry, was destined to sail for the Mediterranean, ag 
a part of the naval force ordered there by the Ameri- 
can government, to be commanded by Commodore 
Chauncey. As preparatory to commencing this' 
^l^ruise, the Java proceeded to Newport, and remain- 



254 LIFE OF 

ed in the harbour of that place for some time pre- 
viously to sailing. 

Whilst Perry was employed in preparing to sail 
for the Mediterranean, an event occurred which is 
no way important, but as affording an evidence of the 
benevolence of his heart — of his affectionate regard 
for American seamen, and of the promptitude and 
readiness with which his services were offered, to as- 
sist the distressed. 

On the 10th January, (1816) an express arrived 
at Newport from Brenton's Neck, with information 
that a vessel had been stranded on the reefs, and 
that several men were seen on part of the wreck, 
driving at the mercy of the wind and waves. Ar- 
rangements were immediately adopted to rescue 
tbem, if possible, from their perilous situation. 
Among others called upon to aid in the effort, was 
Commodore Perry, then at his house ; who, on being 
informed of the facts, immediately engaged in the 
melancholy enterprise, in the most feeling and im- 
pressive manner. His humane heart, rendered more 
susceptible from his experience of the perils to which 
seamen are exposed, enabled him to realize the criti- 
cal situation of those unfortunate men, whose lives 
were at the mercy of elements. The severity of the 
weather, and the raging of the wind, did not weaken 
his sympathies, or occasion him to pause a moment, 
in his exertions to attempt to save the unfortunate 
seamen. He immediately proceeded to his barge. 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 250 

anct without the least hesitation, stepped on board ; 
when turning to his men, he observed, in the most af- 
fecting and impressive manner, " Come my boys, we 
are going to the rehef of shipwrecked seamen." These 
words had the desired effect. — The animated and 
sympathising countenances of the men, evinced the 
lively sense which they felt for the perils and suifer- 
ing of their unfortunate brethren, and of their readi- 
ness to encounter every danger, to attempt to rescue 
them from destruction. Having entered on beard 
the barge, they rowed with great rapidity to the reef, 
which was about five miles. The vessel proved to be 
the schooner Eliza, Captain Charles Gorton, from 
Havana, owned in Newport. She was dashed into a 
thousand pieces. Eleven of her crew, on the quar- 
ter deck, which had separated from the wreck, were 
rescued from their awful situation, and their hves al- 
most miraculously preserved. This simple occur- 
rence speaks more forcibly, than the most elaborate 
panegyric, in proof of the humane and benevolent 
heart of Perry. We here behold the same man, who, 
upon lake Erie, clothed with all the terrors of war. 
was himself a host to the enemy, engaging with spir- 
it and alacrity in an enterprise — not to meet aad 
conquer the enemy, not to acquire glory and reriown* 
and swell the expansive note of his own fame ; not 
to defend the rights of his country, but to aid suffer- 
ing humanity ; or, to use his own appropriate words, 
|f* to relieve shipwrecked scamen,^'^ 



i^56 LIFE OF 

Early in the spring of this year, ( 1 8 i 6) Perry sailed 
in the Java for the Mediterranean, being the third 
time he had visited that sea. The principal object 
of the force, of which the Java formed a part, sent 
to the Mediterranean at this period, seems to have 
been to keep alive those favourable impressions 
which had been produced by the appearance of the 
first squadron under Commodore Decatur. On the 
i20th of April, 1815, Decatur sailed from New-York, 
for the Mediterranean, with a force consisting of the 
Gnerriere, Constellation and Macedonian frigates ; 
the Ontario and Epervier sloops of war, and the 
schooners Spark, Spitfire, Torch, and Flambeau. — 
This squadron was expected shortly to have been 
followed by another, under Commodore Bainbridge, 
who, on his arrival, it was understood was to take 
the command of the whole force, and Decatur, in a 
single vessel, to return to the United States. This 
expedition was destined against the Dey of Algiers, 
Congress having, immediately after the ratification 
of the treaty of peace with Great-Britain, declared 
w^ar against that Regency. The causes which led 
to this measure had most of them existed for several 
years, but in consequence of the war between the 
United States and Great Britain, the subject had 
been neglected by Congress. In the treaty conclu- 
ded between the United States and the Regency of 
Algiers, in 1795, the fonner being placed upon the 
same footing a? other nations, was to pay to the Dey 



OLIVER H. PERRY. :Zd t 

the yearly tribute of twelve thousand Algerine Se- 
quins, to be invested in naval stores. No difficul- 
ties arose under this treaty, nor any infringements of 
its provisions on the part of the Algerines, until 
sometime in July, 1812, when the Dej violated its 
most importaiit articles. 

Whether the infraction of the treaty, and the hos- 
tile conduct of the Dey at this time, was the result 
of that capricious spirit of tyranny and injustice 
which usually governs the councils of that Regency, 
or whether it was occasioned, as some have suppos- 
ed, by the near prospect of a war between the Uni- 
ted Stfltes and Great-Britain, which the Dey was en- 
couraged in the belief, would annihilate tlie naval 
force of the former, and thereby prevent them from 
taking satisfaction upon him, is uncertain. Perhaps 
the latter cause might have come in aid of the for- 
mer ; and the peace which he about that time con- 
cluded with Portugal, which left no employment for 
his cruisers, nor field for the gratification of his rapa- 
city, might have had some clTect in stimulating him 
to measures of hostility against the United States, 
But whatever might have influenced the conduct of 
the Dey, when the Allegany arrived at Algiers, in 
July. 1812, with a cargo Gfna^ ul stores for the pay- 
ment of the annual tribute, agn ably to the treaty 
of 1795, his highness pretended that the assortment 
of articles was not such as he was entitled to ; fell 
into a violent passion, and declared that the cargo 

2^* 



258 LIFE OF 

should not be received, and that the vessel should 
immediately leave Algiers. And in the paroxysm of 
his rage, he insisted that CoL Lear, the American 
aoasul at Algiers, should leave there with the vessel, 
as he would not have a consul in his dominions Vvho 
did not cause every article to be brought which he 
had ordered. All attempts at explanation, on the 
part of the consul, were without any effect. 

A few days after, the Dey, who affected to be ex- 
tremely angry, presented a novel and very extraor- 
dinary demand, calculated to increase the difficul- 
ties. It was a claim of twenty-seven thousand dol- 
lars, as the arrearages of tribute, founded on the dif- 
ference between the solar and lunar years ; one con- 
sisting of three hundred and sixty-five, and the other 
of three hundred and fifty-four days, making in the 
seventeen years which had elapsed since the adop- 
tion of the treaty, a period of six months. This dis- 
tinction between the christian and Mahometan year 
having never been urged before, it is certain that it 
was insisted upon at this time merely as a pretext for 
exacting money from the United States, or to create 
additional pretences for hostilities. 

The explanations and remonstrances of the Con- 
sul, only served to exasperate the Dey, who finally 
declared that if the money was not immediately paid 
he should be sent to the marine in chains, the Allega- 
ny and her cargo confiscated, and every citizen oi^ 
the United States at Algiers, coiideiimed to perpetu- 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 259 

al slavery. These demands were attempted to be 
mitigated, which induced the Dey to give to the 
consul his definitive answer, which was, " that he 
should the next morning, pay the twenty-seven 
thousand dollars and then depart with his family, and 
all the citizens of the United States, from the Regen- 
cy of Algiers." This communication being consid- 
ered as conclusive, Col. Lear, anxious to avert the 
calamities which threatened himself and family, and 
hkewise a number of his countrymen, then in Al- 
giers, made every exertion to raise the money, 
which was finally obtained of a merchant at that 
place, in whose favour bills for the amount were 
drawn on the American consul at Gibraltar. The 
money was paid into the treasury before the time 
specified by the Dey. Col. Lear, having entrusted 
his property to the agent-general of his Swedish Ma- 
jesty at Algiers, with his family, and about twenty 
other Americans, immediately embarked on board 
the Allegany, for America. His departure was fol- 
lowed by the immediate commencement of hostili- 
ties upon the commerce of the United States. 

These and subsequent outrages of the Regency of 
Algiers, upon the commerce and citizens of the Uni- 
ted States, remained, without the government's hav- 
ing adopted any measures to obtain redress, or to 
chastise these piratical freebooters, until 1815, when 
Congress, as we have already noticed, declared war 
against the Regency of Algiers, 



260 LIFE OF 

Decatur's squadron arrived at Gibraltar about the 
15th of May ; as d being informed there that the Al- 
gerine squadron which had been out into the Atlan- 
tic, had passed up the straits, and that the news of 
his arrival had been received at Algiers, he determi- 
ned to proceed immediately up the Mediterranean, 
in the hope of intercepting the enemy's squadron be- 
fore it could return to Algiers, or gain a neutral port. 
This expectation was realised, at least in part. The 
Algerine frigate Mazouda, was fell in with by the 
Guerriere, on the 17th of June, off Cape de Gatt, 
and captured after a running action of twenty-five 
minutes. The crew of the Algerine frigate, after 
receiving two broadsides, all ran below. There was 
about thirty of them killed, among whom was the fa- 
mous Algerine Admiral Hammida, who had long 
been the terror of the Mediterranean ; and the pris- 
oners taken amounted to four hundred and six. Of 
the crew of the Guerriere four were wounded by 
musketry. Two days after, off cape Palos, the squad- 
ron fell in with an Algerine brig of twenty-two guns, 
which was chased close along shore by the Eper- 
vier, Spark, Torch and Spitfire, to which she sur- 
rendered, after the loss of 23 men. This brig, 
with most of the prisoners on hoard, v/as sent into 
Carthagena, where she was aftei'wards claimed by 
the Spanish government, on the plea that she wa5 
captured within the jurisdiction of the Spanish terri- 
tory. After this event the squadron proceeded tq 



OLIVER H. PERRY. ^O i 

4kiers, where it arrived on the 28th of June. Hav- 
ing captured a frigate and a brig of the enemy's 
squadron, and supposing that the remainder of it had 
probably put into some neutral port, Commodore 
Decatur thought it a favourable time to take advan- 
tage of the alarm which his sudden and unwelcome 
arrival had occasioned, to open a negociation; and 
he accordingly dispatched to the Dey a letter from 
the President of the United States. On the receipt 
af this letter, the Captain of the port, accompanied 
by Mr. Norderling, the Swedish consul, was imme- 
diately dispatched to the Guerriere, to further the 
negociation. Decatur and Mr. Shaler, who had 
been authorised to negociate a treaty, proposed the 
only basis upon which an adjustment could be made, 
which was, the absolute and unqualified relinquish- 
ment of any demand of tribute on the part of the i?e- 
gency, on any pretence zvhatsoever* 

To this basis the agent of the Dey demurred. It 
being supposed that he was not apprised of the cap- 
ture of the frigate and brig, he was asked if he knew 
what had become of the Algerine squadron ; to which 
he answered — " By this time it is safe in some neu^ 
tral port." '' Not the whole of it," was the reply* 
He was then informed of the capture of the frigate 
and brig, and of the death of Hammida. At this he 
shook his head, smiling, with a look of incredulity, 
considering it a mere attempt to operate on his fears, 
to induce him to accede to the proposed basis. The 



262 LiLE oir 

Lieutenant of Hammida was then called m^ who 
confirnming the truth of these facts, the negociator 
was completely unnerved, and at once agreed to the 
basis proposed, premising, however, that he was not 
then authorised to conclude a treaty, but requested 
the American commissioners to state the terms upon 
which they were willing to negociate. This being 
done, he requested a cessation of hostilities, and 
that the negociation should be conducted on shore, 
the Minister of Marine pledging himself for their 
safety whilst there, and their safe return whenever 
they might desire to. A compliance v.ith both these 
propositions was refused, and the Captain of the 
port expressly informed, that the negociation would 
be carried on no where else, but on board of the 
Guerricre, and that hostilities would still be prose- 
cuted against the vessels belonging to the Algerines 
until the treaty was signed by the Day. 

The Algerine negociator and the Swedish consul 
then went ashore, but returned the next day with in- 
formation that they were authorised to conclude a 
treaty, upon the proposed basis. The American 
commissioners then produced a treaty, premising 
that the same could not be materially varied in any 
of its provisions, which rendered all discussion use- 
less, and inasmuch as it would occasion delay, dan- 
gerous on the part of the Dey, for if, in the interim, 
his squadron was to appear, it v/ould certainly be at- 
tacked. 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 263 

The Captarn of the port, on examining the trea- 
ty, manifested no particular opposition except to 
the article which provided for the restoration of 
property taken by the Algerines during the war. 
He was extremely anxious to have this dispen- 
sed with, urging that as the property could not 
be reclaimed, having gone into many hands, and as 
it was not the present Dey who commenced hostili- 
ties against the United States, it would be extremely 
hard to make him answerable for the consequences. 

After various fruitless attempts to get rid of this ar- 
ticle, to obtain a truce, and gain time, the American 
commissioners being inflexible, the Dey's negociator 
was obliged to yield the point. A few hours after- 
wards the treaty was signed by the Dey, and returned, 
together with the American prisoners at Algiers, 
whose liberation formed one of the articles of the 
treaty. In addition to the fundamental article, the 
relinquishment on the part of the Regency of Al- 
giers, to all claims of tribute of the United States, 
under any pretence whatsoever, the treaty provided 
for the liberation of American prisoners, without ran- 
som ; for compensation to the United States for ves- 
sels and property seized or detained ; for the securi- 
ty of the persons and property of Americans, found 
on board the vessels of an enemy ; that the vessels of 
either party, in the ports of the other, should be sup- 
plied with provisions at the market price, and, if re- 
pairs were required, should be permitted to land 



264 hi^E OF 

their cargo without paying duty ; that if a vessel oi 
either party should be cast on shore within the terri- 
tory of the other, she should not be given up to plun- 
der, or if attacked by an enemy, within cannon shot 
of a fort, should be protected, and on her going to 
sea again, the enemy not permitted to follow her 
within twenty-four hours. The treaty also contain- 
ed another important principle, in the observance of 
which the whole civilized world is interested ; but 
being one, which essentially interferes with the poli- 
cy of all the Barbary powers, and with an important 
branch of their revenue, it is hardly to be expected 
that it will be regarded any longer than /ear may op- 
erate to produce such a result. The principle allu- 
ded to is, that the citizens of the United States which 
may be taken during war, should be considered and 
treated as prisoners of war are by other nations, and 
not made slaves of; and that they should be exchan- 
ged without ransom. If the states of Barbary could 
be compelled to recognize and respect this princi- 
ple, it would ipso facio, change their political char- 
acter. 

On the part of the American commissioners, they 
agreed to deliver up the frigate and the biig which 
had been captured, to the Algerines. This engage- 
ment, however, it is believed, went no farther than to 
a relinquishment, on the part of the United States, of 
their claim to these vessels, leaving the Dey to settle 
the controVersey with the Spanish government, as to 



OLIVER H. PERR¥, 265 

the brig, who claimed it on the ground that it was 
captured within the limits of their jurisdiction. 

Our differences with Algiers being thus promptly 
and satisfactorily adjusted, Commodore Decatur, 
having dispatched Captain Lewis, in the Epervier, 
with the treaty, to the United States, and two schoon- 
ers to Carthagena, to convoy home the two Algerine 
vessel*, sailed with the rest of the squadron for Tu- 
nis, Mr. Shaler was left at Algiers as consul gene- 
ral to the Barbary states. The existence of a mis- 
understanding between the American consul, and 
the Bashaw of Tunis, was the cause of Decatur's 
visiting that place. 

On his arrival, he was informed by the American 
consul that the Bashaw had violated the treaty, in 
having, during the war between the United States 
and Great-Britain, permitted two prizes, captut-ed 
by a privateer of the former, to be taken out of the 
harbour by a cruiser of the latter ; and also in per= 
mittinga company of merchants, his own subjects, 
to take the property of an American citizen at their 
own price, subjecting him to a great sacrifice. The 
facts being officially substantiated, Decatur demand- 
ed immediate satisfaction. The prime minister ad- 
mitted the truth of the facts, and the justice of the 
claim, but solicited twelve months to pay the money. 
This was refused ; whereupon assurances were given 
that it would be paid immediately. The Commo- 
dore then went on shoxe and received the visits of 

23 



^66 LIFE OF 

the different consuls. The money was paid by tlie 
brother of the prime minister, who, observing Com- 
modore Decatur in conversation with the British 
consul, he approached them, and throwing down the 
bags containing the money, with great indignation, 
addressed himself to the latter, in English, as follows : 
^' You see, sir, what Tunis is obliged to pay for}'Our 
insolence. You must feel ashamed of the (iisgrace 
you have brought upon us. You are very good 
friends now, but I ask you whether you think it just, 
first to violate our neutrality, and then to leave us to 
be destroyed, or pay for your aggressions." 

We do not know what elfect this reproach had up- 
on the British consul, but it was certainly founded in 
truth and justice. The Bashaw, however, was not 
satisfied with complaints against the party who was 
ihe principal aggressor ; he intended to have the 
money refunded, and immediately proposed to dis- 
patch a minister to England, to demand it. 

After this adjustment with Tunis, Decatur pro- 
ceeded to Tripoli, which had also violated its treaty 
with the United States, in having permitted two 
American vessels to be taken by a British sloop of 
war, from under the guns of the castle, and in refus- 
ing protection to an American cruiser lying within 
its jurisdiction. Satisfaction for these vessels, which 
were estimated at twenty-five thousand dollars, was 
promptly demanded, which the Bashaw, remember- 
ing the former war with the Americans, and not dar- 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 267 

ing to provoke their hostility, ordered to be immedi- 
ately paid to the American consul. 

After this adjustment, the American consular flag, 
which had been struck in consequence of these vi- 
olations of neutrality, and infractions of the subsist- 
ing treaty, was hoisted, and saluted with thirty-one 
guns, from the castle.—Previously to leaving Al- 
giers, Decatur performed a service which was 
highly honourable to his character, as it could have 
proceeded from no other motive than those of human- 
ity and benevolence. He procured the release of 
ten captives, two Danes, and eight Neapolitans, the 
latter of whom he landed at Messina. The last of 
August the squadron sailed for Carthagena, and not 
meeting there the reinforcement, or second division 
©f the squadron, under Commodore Bainbridge, pro- 
ceeded to Gibraltar. 

The two divisions of the squadron having united, 
Decatur relinquished the command to Bainbridge, 
and returned to the United States in the Guerriere? 
where he arrived on the 12th of November. 

All differences with the several states of Barbary 
having been adjusted, before the arrival of Bain- 
bridge, that gallant officer had no opportunity of dis- 
tinguishing himself, nor any efficient service to per- 
form ; but, pursuant to instructions, he proceeded 
with the squadron, thus reinforced, and exhibited it 
before Algiers, Tunis and Tripoli, which occasioued 



^&S LIFE 01' 

great surprise, particularly the Independence 74, ss 
they had always supposed that the United States, 
hy their treaties with England, were restricted from 
building vessels of this class. Colonel Lear, whenf 
consulat Algiers, frequently attempted to undeceive 
the ministers of the Dey upon this subject ; but they 
always replied, '' If you are permitted to build 74's 
let us see one of them and we shall be satisfied." — 
Commodore Bainbridge arrived at Boston the 15th 
of November, 1815, being three days before the ar- 
rival of the Guerrier.* 

This expedition, although it was characterised by 
no splendid or desperate achievements, and afford- 
ed no opportunities for the display of the consum- 
mate skill and undaunted bravery of our seamen,, 
was however productive of as important and honour- 
able results, perhaps, as any other ever destined by 
any nation, against the Barbary powers. It effected 
what Louis XIV., and Lord Nelson, with the most 
ample means, failed of attaining, a prompt and satis- 
factory adjustment of all differences, and the estab- 
lishment of commercial relations, founded upon 
principles, vvlijch the Barbary stales have seldom, if 
ever before recognised. Not a demand was made 
which was not acceded to. The expedition also 
ha! fne effect of chastising and humbling these law- 
](^.ss pirates, who respect neither the laws of nation- 



OLIVER H. PJiRRY. ^69 

iior their ovvn treaties, (unless compelled to from the 
fear of chastisement,) and who for ages have most 
seriously annoyed the commerce of the Mediterrane- 
an, and been the scourge of the civilized world. — 
The chastisement which they received, and the con- 
siderable force which was displayed, was calculated 
to impress them with high ideas of our rising naval 
power, and the prowess of our seamen, and give them 
a sense of their own naval inferiority. This last ob- 
ject was rendered more important, and was calcula- 
ted to have a more salutary effect, in consequence 
of these events following so close upon the war be- 
tween the United States and Great-Britain. These 
barbarians were perfectly astonished at the sudden 
appearance, in the Mediterranean, of so large a 
squadron from the United States, almost immediate- 
ly after bhe had closed a war, which, from their 
knowledge of the maritime resources of the English, 
they supposed, would annihilate every American 
ship of war. It is pretty certain that the British en- 
couraged them in this idea ; and they were after- 
wards reproached by the Algerines with having de- 
ceived them and led them into a w^ar with the Uiii- 
ted States. One of the Dey's officers is said to have 
addressed the British consul at Algiers, as follows : 
»' You told us that the American navy would be de- 
stroyed in six months, by you, and now they make 
war upon us with two of your oion vessels they have 
taken from you." 



270 



LIFE OF 



From the?e and other circumstances, the appear- 
ance of so respectable a force in the Mediterranean 
at that time, must have had a most important effect, 
and was one of the principal objects of the govern- 
ment. 

It was principally with a view to this object, and 
to confirm and strengthen the impressions which the 
two first squa irons had produced, that the Java, 
and the force under Com. Chauncey was sent out the 
following year. — The treaty concluded by Commo- 
dore Decatur, after being ratified by the American 
government, was carried out in the Java, to be ex- 
changed for the unratified treaty. The Java arriv- 
ed at Port Mahon, where that portion of the first 
squadron which had not returned to the United States 
had made their winter quarters. Afterwards, on the 
5th of April, the Java, Constellation, Erie, and John 
Adams, left this place and proceeded to Algiers, where 
they found an English fleet, consisting of six line of 
battle ships, two frigates, three sloops, a bomb ship, 
and a number of transports, under the command of 
Lord Exmouth, anchored in the bay in order of bat- 
tle', abrest of the batteries. The English Admiral 
first made a demand of an unconditional liberation of 
all christian slaves ; which being refused, a demand 
was made, accompanied with an offer of a sum of 
money which was acceded to. The demand, it is 
believed, was confined to the Neapolitans and Sar- 
dinians, of which there were more than twelve bun- 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 271 

dred at Algiers, a striking evidence of the mischiev- 
ous eifects of the barbarous policy of these despe- 
rate pirates. The sum of one thousand dollars a 
head was agreed to be paid for the former, and five 
hundred for the latter, from which it is inferrable 
that his Lordship's fleet, formidable as it was, did 
not make a very serious impression. 

Commodore Shaw, who commanded the Ameri- 
can squadron, and Mr. Shaler, our Consul at Al- 
giers, had an audience with the Dey, and presented 
to him the ratified treaty ; but he either did not, or 
affected not to, understand the nature of the ratifica- 
tion, and enquired why another treaty should be of- 
fered to him. This being explained, he requested 
that the two treaties should be read, and although it 
appeared that they were word for word the same, 
he intimated, notwithstanding, that several of the ar- 
ticles had undergone some change, and said that nei- 
ther he nor his council could understand them. He 
complained that the captured brig, (which was carri^ 
ed into Carthagena, and was claimed by the Spanish 
authorities,) had not been restored to him, agreeably 
to the stipulation in the treaty, and that presents 
had been promised him, which he had not received, 
and concluded by observing, that the Americans were 
unworthy of his confidence. — The negociation was 
here ended ; bat the next day Mr. Shaler requested 
another audience with the Dey, which was refused ; 
he had, however, an interview with the prime minis- 



272 LIFE Oi' 

ter, whose conduct and language were very insulting 
and by whom the treaty was returned. Under these 
circumstances, it was thought most advisable for the 
consul to withdraw, and he accordingly took up his 
residence on board the frigate United States. 

After four days negociation, under the protection 
of a white flag, the dispute was so far arranged, that 
the Dey re-acknowledged the treaty, and promised 
to wait until instructions could be received from the 
President of the United States, relative to the points 
in dispute. The attitude assumed by our squadron, 
although small, and the exalted opinion which the 
Dey entertained of the desperate bravery of our sea- 
men, induced him to agree to this measure. The 
fears of the Dey were not removed by the fair words 
of the British, who, whilst at Algiers, told him that 
" the Americans had neither ships nor money." — 
This expression was afterwards made use of by the 
prime minister, to Mr. Shaler ; but the Dey knev/ 
too well from past events, the consequences of hos- 
tilities with the United States, to believe it. 

Soon after these events, the Spanish returned the 
brig and crew in dispute, representing to the Dey, 
however, that she was given to him as a present from 
their Sovereign, and that (he circumstance would not 
at all effect his claim upon the United States. The 
squadron left Algiers, and sailed for Barcelona, ex- 
cepting the John Adams, which returned to the Uni- 
ted States. 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 27S 

Whilst in the Mediterranean, in the month of 
September, an unhappy controversy arose between 
Commodore Perry and John Heath, Captain of Ma- 
rines on board the Java. It is not our intention to 
go into a very particular detail of the circumstances 
of this unfortunate dispute ; much less to attempt to 
give the transaction any colouring which truth and 
justice would not warrant. This work is not intend- 
ed to be an eulogy upon Commodore Perry, but a 
faithful history of the events of his life, so far as they 
are deemed of any interest to the public, or of any 
importance in appreciating his character. In doing 
this, it is but just to acknowledge that we have form- 
ed sentiments of respect for the character, and vene- 
i ration for the memory of Perry, which we did not en- 
tertain at the time we engaged in the undertaking. 
But to suppose that in the course of his life he never, 
in a single instance, acted indiscreetly, intemperate- 
lly, or mistakenly, would be to suppose him to have 
been perfect ; or that he was something more than 
. 77ian, For we are almost every day convinced, either 
from experience or observation, that '' to err is hu- 
man.^^ This is the nature of man ; it results from 
" the constitution and structure of his faculties, and the 
limited means of his knowledge. 

The following letter, addressed by Perry to Com- 
modore Chauncey, senior ofiicer and commander of 
the squadron, requesting an enquiry into his conduct, 
contains a history of the quarrel, as well as Perry's 



274 LIFE OF 

explanations, and suggestions tending to justify his 
conduct. 

United States'' Ship Java, Tunis Bay, Oct, Bih, 181 6. 

Sir — I am under the painful necessity of inform- 
ing you of a circumstance, and of detailing to you 
the causes which led to an event of a very unpleasant 
nature. 

The apparent violation of the laws of my country, 
which may be imputed to me in my having offered 
personal violence to the Captain of the Marine guard 
of this ship, I trust will be in a great measure exten- 
uated by the consideration that, although 1 do not 
absolutely defend this mode of redress, yet I insist 
the consequences were produced by a sufficient pro- 
vocation. 

The general deportment of Captain Heath towards 
me, so contrary to the usual address of my officers, 
and moreover, his marked insolence to me in many 
instances, induced me to believe, that his conduct 
proceeded from a premeditated determination to in- 
sult me on every occasion. 

His palpable neglect of duty on several important 
emergencies, together with the usual indolence and 
inattention to the calls of his office, made it a desira- 
ble object with me to solicit his removal the first con- 
venient opportunity, not only to obtain a more active 
and vigilant officer, but to save him the rigorous se 
verity of a court martial. ^ 



OLIVER H. PERRV. 275' 

1 now, sir, narrate to you, the circumstances which 
have thus compelled me to address you. 

On the evening of the 1 6th of September last, while 
this ship lay at anchor in the harbour of Messina, two 
of her marines deserted, by jumping overboard and 
swimming on shore. Informed of the fact. Captain 
Heath, as their commanding officer, was immediate- 
ly sent for and acquainted therewith, but he refused 
to go on deck, alledgingas a reason therefor, the sub- 
terfuge of indisposition. I then repeated the order 
for him to come on deck, and muster the marines* 
This duty he executed in so careless and indifferent 
a manner, and at the same time neglected to report 
to me until called by me, and requested so to do, that 
(conscious that such an occasion ought to animate 
the most careless and inattentive officer, to decision 
and promptitude,) I was induced from such a mani- 
fest neglect of duty, to say to him, " that he might 
go below, and should do no more duty on board the 
Java." 

On the evening of the 1 8th September, he address- 
ed to me a letter, written by himself, which he caus- 
ed to be laid on the table in the cabin, and which i 
received at a very late hour. This letter being couch- 
ed in language which I deemed indecorous and dis- 
respectful, I sent for him and demanded why he thus 
addressed me, and particularly why he had selected 
a time so obviously improper. He immediately as- 
sumed a manner so highly irritating and contempty- 



^T6 LIFE OF 

0U9, that I believed it my duty to arrest him, (aftei 
having expressed to him my indignation at such con- 
duct) and for this purpose sent for the 2d marine of- 
ficer, at the same time ordering him to ])e silent. In 
utter disregard of this order, though repeatedly warn- 
ed of tlie consequences of his disobedience, he per» 
severed in the same irritating tone and manner, un. 
til at length, after reiterating attempts to effect his 
silence, I gave him a blow. Frequent outrage added 
to frequent insult, provoked this disagreeable conse- 
quence. 

Mortified, that I should so idiV forget myself as to 
raise my arm against any officer holding a commission 
in the service of the United States, howeverimproper 
his conduct might have been, and however just the 
cause, I immediately, in conformity to this principle, 
offered to make such an apology as should be proper 
for both : this proposal was refused, which precluded 
the necessity of any further overtures. — The ofTer 
was consonant to the views of some of the most dis- 
tinguished officers of the squadron, after their being 
made fully acquainted with e\eyy particular. 

From my having been educated in the strictest 
discipline of the navy, in which, respect and obedi- 
ence to a superior was instilled into my mind as a 
fundamental and leading principle, and from a natu- 
ral disposition to chastise insolence and impertinence, 
immediately when offered me, even in private life, 
must be inferred the burst of indignant feeling, which 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 277 

prompted me to inflict personal satisfaction on an offi- 
cer who thus daringly outraged the vital interests of 
the service in my own person. 

I have thus gone through this unpleasant recital 
with as much candor and conciseness as possible.—- 
! might indeed detail to you other acts of delinquen- 
cy in this officer, but I will not further weary you 
with the circumstances of this unfortunate affair, but 
confine myself to the request, that you will be pleas- 
ed to order a court of inquiry or court martial, as 
you may see fit, to examine into the causes which 
led to this seeming infraction of the laws of the 
navy. 

After eighteen years of important and arduous 
services in the cause of my country, it can hardly be 
imagined that I have any disposition to infringe that 
discipline, which is the pride and ornament of the 
navy ; and to prevent any intention being falsely as- 
cribed to me, I beg you will give immediate atten- 
tion to this request, that the navy, as well as my 
country, shall be satisfied of the integrity of my mo 
tives. 

1 have the honour to be, Sir, 
Very respectfully, 

Your obedient servant. 
(Signed) O. H. PERRY. 

To haac Chauncey, Esq, Commodorty ^c. 



24 



278 LIFE OF 

After a careful examination of all the facts and 
circumstances of this affair, so far as they can be as- 
certained from the minutes of the proceedings of 
the court martial which tried the two officers, we 
are led to believe that, as is the case in most other 
personal quarrels, both parties were somewhat to 
blame, and that the conduct of each proceeded in a 
great measure^ from mistaken and erroneovs impres- 
sions, as to the motives and behaviour of the other. 

That Perry's conduct on the 18th Septembers 
when on receiving Captain Heath's letter, he order- 
ed him into his cabin, was intemperate, and particu- 
larly, that, in offering personal violence to Captain 
Heath, it was unjustifiable, all will perhaps admit. 
But on the other hand, he either had, or supposed 
he had, a very great provocation, which produced 
such a ^' burst of indignant feeling," as to deprive 
reason of its dominion. — Whether Captain Heath 
intended to insult his superior officer, is, we are idu- 
ced to believe, uncertain, and whether his demean- 
our was such as would have produced this impres- 
sion upon the mind of every person, is perhaps equal- 
ly questionable ; but that it produced this impres- 
sion upon the mind of Ferry, we think there can be 
no reasonable doubt. To believe the contrary of 
this, would be to suppose that this act of violence and 
tyranny, was committed from mere wantonness; a 
supposition which the general character of Perry, ^ 
?»nd the conduct of his whole life, forbidb% 



OLIVER H. lERRV. -279 

His situation, therefore, was extremely critical, 
jLiid peculiarly calculated to awaken every latent 
feeling of indignation. However the fact nnight have 
been, he considered that a direct and intentional per- 
sonal insult, was offered him by an inferior officer, 
under his immediate command. That this should 
have produced a burst of indignant feeling, and even 
that it should have induced an officer, especially one 
who had '' been educated in the strictest discipline 
of the navy, in which respect and obedience to a su» 
perior, was instilled into his mind as a leading and 
fundamental principle," to repel the daring outrage 
upon the spot, cannot, we think, be a matter of sur- 
prise. 

Although we have placed this affair in the light we 
have, it is perhaps proper to remark, that the court 
martial which examined into the conduct of Captain 
Heath, found him guilty of "disrespectful, insolent, 
and contemptuous conduct, towards Captain Perry^ 
his superior officer;" and also of disobedience of his 
orders. Perry was found guilty of having used im- 
proper language, and of striking Captain Heath. 

In these remarks, intcRded to extenuate, not to 
say justify, the conduct of Commodore Perry, we have 
considered the conduct of Captain Heath in a less 
culpable light than it was exhibited by the decis- 
ion of the court martial ; not deeming it material, as 
it respects Perry's vindication, whether Capt. Heath 
did intentionally insult him, or whether from what 



280 LIFE OF 

had previously occurred, and his demeanor at the 
time, Perry supposed that he intended to insult him, 
and viewed his conduct in that hght. Was it neces- 
sary to say more upon this subject, it might be ob- 
served that the general character of Perry, was such 
as to effectually shield it from any imputation of un- 
proked violence, tyranny, and arbitrary conduct. — 
He was, during his whole life, remarkable for his 
modest deportment, for the affability of his manners, 
a]id for his miJd and unassuming conduct. And al- 
though v/e would not entirely justify his conduct, on 
this occasion, yet there is something in it not only free 
from blame, but highly meritorious. The man o^ 
real worth and virtue, often appears lovely even in 
his faults. These frequently appear like a veil 
thrown over his virtues, which, although it may ob- 
scure their brilliancy, gives them a novel, and often 
a more interesting character, from their being seen 
through a different medium. Not only do the differ- 
ent coloui's appear the most brillirint when contrast- 
ed with each other, but the richest lustre is usually 
produced by a proper admixture of " light and 
dhade." 

If to " err is human," it is equally true, that to 
" forgive is divine." In the transaction of which 
we have been speaking, if Perry, from a combina- 
tion of extraordinary circumstances, was betrayed 
info an ir Vmperate and improper act, he was prompt 
and ready to offer satisfaction for it. Whatever may 



OLIVER H. PERRV. 281 

he thought of the merits of the controversy, in other 
respects, it must, we believe, be admitted that in thif; 
particular, Perry had an evident advantage over his 
opponent. His conduct after the occurrence, was 
conciliatory and honourable. Although conscious of 
having been grossly provoked, he promptly offered 
to make an honourable apology to Captain Heath for 
the aggression on his part. This, althougli repeat- 
ed and submitted in writing, was peremptorily re- 
fused. 

The Dey of Algiers having again evinced a dispo- 
sition to disregard some of the provisions of the trea- 
ty concluded by Commodore Decatur, it was thought 
advisable to compel him to recognise, more distinct- 
ly, the principles of that treaty. Accordingly, on 
the 25th December, (1816,) Commodore Chauncey 
concluded another treaty with the Dey, wliich was 
not only formed upon the same basis, but comprised 
all the principal features of the former treaty, differ- 
ing from that only in some unimportant particulars. 
Information of this event was immediately communi- 
cated by Commodore Chauncey, to the several Amer- 
ican consuls in the Mediterranean, and also that oui 
ix'lations with the other Barbary powers remained 
undisturbed, so that the American commerce had 
nothing to apprehend from tlie cruisers of any of 
those powers. 

After these events, the Java, and the Ontario 
sloop of war, sailed for the United Slates, leaving 

24* 



282 LIFE OP 

the rest of the squadron at Port Mahon. The Java 
arrived at Newport, early in March, (1817,) bearing 
dispatches from Commodore Chauncey. The On- 
tario, commanded by Captain Downes, arrived at 
Annapolis. 

After his return, Commodore Perry remained at 
Newport, and in June following, in conjunction with 
Commodore Bainbridge and Captain Evans, he was 
appointed by the President of the United States to 
survey and examine the harbour of Newport, with 
the view to ascertain the advantages of the place 
for a naval depot, dock yard, &c. which the govern- 
ment contemplated to establish, several other har- 
bours having been examined for the same purpose. 

In the month of July, Perry retired from the com- 
iiand of the Java, on which occasion the officers of 
that ship presented him an address, containing the 
most flattering testimony of the affection and respect 
which they felt for their commander. Was any 
wanted, this would be conclusive evidence that Per- 
ry, during the voyage to the Mediterranean, had 
not, in the exercise of his authority, been guilty of 
tyrannical and arbitrary conduct. On leaving the 
Java, he resumed the command on the Newport sta- 
don, in which he continued during this, and a part of 
(he following year. 

We have now to notice an occurrence which grew 
out of, and which terminated the misunderstanding 
between Commodore Perry and Captain Heath,— 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 283 

Early m October, 1818, Captain Heath visited 
Rhode- Island, from whence he forwarded to Com- 
modore Perry a communication, demanding what is 
called honourable satifaction for the injury he claim- 
ed to have received in the Mediterranean. The ob- 
ject of Captain Heath's visit, and communication, 
being ascertained, the authorities of the state inter- 
fered, and prevented a meeting. In consequence of 
this, Commodore Perry agreed to go on to Washing- 
ton on the 10th of October, for the purpose of giving 
Captain Heath the satisfaction which he demanded. 
The following note, which was endorsed on the pre- 
liminary arrangement relative to the meeting, ex- 
plains Perry's views upon the subject : — 

" Captain Perry desires it to be explicitly under- 
stood, that in according to Captain Heath the per- 
sonal satisfaction he has demanded, he has been in- 
fluenced entirely by a sense of what he considers 
due from him, as an atonement to the violated rules 
of the service, and not by any considerations of the 
claims which Captain Heath may have for making 
such a demand, which he totally denies, as such 
claims have been forfeited by the measures of a pub- 
lic character, which Captain Heath has adopted to- 
wards him. If, therefore, the civil authority should 
produce an impossibility of meeting at the time and 
place designated, which he will take every precau- 
tion to prevent, he will consider himself absolutely 



264 LILE OF 

exonerated from any responsibility to Captain 
Heath, touching their presentcause of difference." 

This was signed by the seconds of the two parties^ 
Previously to this time, in January, 1818, Perry ad- 
dressed a letter to Commodore Decatur, in which he 
expresses the same sentiments contained in the pre- 
ceding note; that although he considered from the 
course Captain Heath had thought proper to pursue, 
he was absolved from ail accountability to him ; yet 
inasmuch as in a moment of irritation, produced by 
strong provocation, he had raised his hand against a 
person honoured with a commission, he had deter- 
mined, upon mature reflection, that in case he should 
be called on by Captain Heath, togive him a meeting, 
declaring at the same time, that he could not consent 
to return his fire, as the meeting would, on his part, 
be entirely as an atonement for the violated rules of 
the service — And at the same time he requested 
Commodore Decatur to serve as his friend, in case 
he should be called out. Such were the circumstan- 
ces, on the part of Perry, under which this meeting 
took place. 

Having made the necessary arrangements, the par- 
ties and their friends, proceeded to Philadelphia, and 
from thence to New- York, or its vicinity. The meet- 
ing took place on the 19th of October, on the Jersey 
shore of the Hudson, where captain Perry received 
the fire of Captain Heath, without returning it, when 
Commodore Decatur immediately stepped forwan3 



OLIVER H. PERRV. 2t& 

and deciared that Commodore Perry came to the 
ground with a determination not to return the fire of 
Captain Heath ; in proof of which he read the letter 
from Commodore Perry, of which we have already 
spoken, and concluded by observing, that he presum- 
ed the party claiming to be aggrieved, was satisfied. 
Captain Heath acquiesced in this opinion, and ac- 
knowledged that the injury he had received from 
Captain Perry was atoned for. The parties then re- 
turned to the city of New- York. 

In this affair, which terminated the unfortunate 
dispute between Commodore Perry and Captain 
Heath, it must be admitted that the conduct of Per- 
ry was honourable and magnanimous, and, was it not 
for the objection which is justly felt to the practice 
of duelling, in all and every shape, it could hardly 
fail to excite the highest admiration. 

In my opinion, however, the view taken of this 
subject by Com. Perry, was incorrect, as T cannot 
persuade myself that, because a vaLuable officer, in a 
moment of irritation, has violated the rules of the 
service in which he was employed, this circumstance 
can justify him in jeopardising his own life, thus dis- 
regarding the principles of self-preservation, which 
the God of nature has implanted in man, for the wis- 
est of purposes ; and much less can I perceive why 
his thus jeopardising his life, which might forever 
deprive his country of his services, should be consid- 
ered as an atonement for the offence. The abhor- 



286 LIFE OF 

rerice with which I view this barbarous practice, 
which seems to have been transmitted to the present 
day as a precious relic of the manners and customs of 
former times, growing out of the feudal institutions 
of Europe, is such, that it is impossible for me to 
consider it as justifiable under any circumstances. 
Yet all perhaps, will admit, that wilh <ho5e who make 
arms their profession^ the practice of duelling is more 
excusable than with any others ; as with them their 
professional character must be maintained, not only 
free from dishonour, but free from suspicion. 

Although the soundness of this principle will not 
be disputed, yet this does not justify the practice of 
duelling among military men ; as to do this, it is ne- 
cessary to demonstrate, that their honour, or profes- 
sional character, cannot be preserved in any other 
way ; a proposition, which we apprehend, cannot be 
supported. Yet the difference between |he case of 
an officer of the army or navy, who resorts to this 
honourable mode of obtaining satisfaction for a real 
or supposed injury, and that of any other person, who 
attempts to redress his wrongs in the same barbarous 
way, is certainly very great, and the former much less 
criminal. But this case of Perry's is no ordinary 
meeting between two military men ; but presents en- 
tirely different features. 

Perry was not only free from blame, as it respects 
the challenge, but he consented to the meeting, on- 
ly upon the principle that he should not return 



OLIVER H. i^ERRY* 2B7 

the fire of his antagonist. The meeting therefore 
wanted one of the essential features of a duel, in 
which the parttes mutually jeopardise each other's 
lives ; and not only expose their own, but are liable 
to stain their hands with the blood of a fellow mortal* 

This is not the place to examine the consequences 
of this barbarous practice, or the practicability of 
suppressing it, in the army and navy ; yet we cannot 
forbear to remark, that it is devoulty to be hoped 
that Congress will make an effort to accomplish this 
important object. The last victim to this practicCj 
the gallant Decatur, the bravest and the noblest of 
Columbia's sons, whose life was an uninterrupted ca- 
reer of glory, produced a strong sensation throughout 
the United States, which it is hoped, may in some 
measure compensate for the loss the country sus- 
tained, by occasioning the adoption of such regu- 
lations in the army and navy, as may prevent the oc- 
currence of like evils. 

In the summer of 1 8 1 9, Commodore Perry was or* 
dered on an expedition to South America ; and in the 
month of June, he sailed from Norfolk, Virginia, with 
the John Adams ship of war, and the schooner Non° 
such, for Angostura, on the river Orinoco, the capi- 
tal of the Venezuelean republic. He arrived at the 
river Orinoco on the 1 3th of July, having experienced 
some difficulty in finding its mouth, which is laid down 
differently in different charts, and not correctly in any 
in the United States^it being little known in this coun- 



■288 LIFE OF 

try; like most of the great rivers in South America, 5 
the Orinoco has a bar at its mouth, over which ves- 
sels drawing more than 16 feet of water, cannot pass. 
Here a pilot was procured, who was brought on board 
bj the native Indians in their canoes, who were en- 
tirety naked, and appeared to be a miserable but in- ^ 
offensive race of beings, greatly inferior to the North ; 
American Indians. The Nonsuch only, proceeded 
up the river, the John Adams being left behind. 

The country bordering upon the Orinoco, for 200 
miles from its mouth is uninhabited, owing to the 
serious inundations to which it is subjected ; its banks 
however, are covered with live oak, mahogany, co 
coa-nut, and various other tropical trees. The coun 
try further up is covered with forests, the soil very 
rich, and well adapted to Indian corn, tobacco, and 
the various tropical productions. The depth of the 
river was so great, and extending so nearly to the 
shore, that the Nonsuch was sometimes tied to a 
tree, when the men could jump ashore on dry lando 
Before you come to the Spanish settlements, is an 
Indian village, called Sanchopan, on the left bank 
of the river, which is represented to be a place of 
considerable size, and a handsome town, its streets 
being regularly laid out. Its buildings are construct- 
ed of clay and palmetto leaves. The Indians, par- 
ticularly those in the interior, are harmless and in- 
offensive, fond of rum and tobacco — They have 
great simplicity of character, and in the interior, are 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 289 

completely in a state of nature. About thirty miles 
above the Indian town of Sanchopan, is the village 
of Baranchas, comprising a dozen houses, and was 
then the rendezvous for the patriot forces on the riv- 
er, which consisted of four gun boats, each manned 
with fifty men, and carrying one gun. Here the 
Nonsuch was boarded by Commodore Padisez, the 
commander of the station. Farther up the river is 
Guyana, being one hundred miles below Angostura ; 
it contains more than fifty houses, which are thatch- 
ed and painted red. Here there are some fortifica 
tions ; a fort erected at the foot of the hill, mounting 
5 guns, and a castle on its summit, with four. Their 
position is good, and if properly manned and kept 
in repair, might effectually command the river : but 
at this time, their situation was such that they might 
have been taken by an inconsiderable force. The 
next town up the river, and which is the first below 
Angostura, is St. Michael, containing about twenty 
houses, built on a site one mile back from the river« 
On arriving at Angostura, the Nonsuch fired a salute 
of 18 guns, to which the town returned tw^enty-one^ 
Commodore Perry and his suit went ashore, and 
paid a visit to the Vice-President, who received 
them with great politeness and attention. 

As this country is rising into importance in a po- 
litical point of view, and we trust will shortly in a 
commercial one, every information with respect to 
it, whether political, geographical or copmercial, 
25 



290 LIFE or 

cannot but be interesting ; more especially as thert 
is, in general, in the United States, both as to the 
geography of the country, and its political affairs, a 
great deficiency of knowledge. This is owing to 
various causes, but principally to the want of inter- 
course, which, where it exists, not only serves to 
furnish information, but to excite and maintain in the 
public mind, an interest in the affairs of the country 
with which it subsists. 

Such has been and still is the state of commercial 
and social intercourse between the United States 
and the countries in Europe, particularly those of 
England, France, and some others, that, as it re- 
spects foreign affairs, the attention of our citizens 
lias been almost entirely contined to those nations. 
Most of us take a lively interest, not only in their 
politics, but in all their concerns. This cannot be a 
matter of surprise with those who are in the habit of 
tracing effects to their causes, and who consider that 
circumstances form the character not only of individ- 
uals, but of communities. 

As long as a large proportion of our clothing, and 
of the implements used in the common arts of socie- 
ty, are the products of European industry, and nu- 
merous classes of our citizens are employed in im- 
porting, storing, transporting, vending, and distribu- 
ting the same, many of whom make fortunes thereby, 
(but of late it is believed more have lost them,) so 
long it maj be calculated that the affairs of Europe 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 291 

will, as it respects foreign countries, almost exclu- 
sively occupy the attention of our citizens. To these 
causes nnay be added another equally, if not nnore 
inaportant, than any one which has been noticed ; the 
importation of literature, or books, which, however, 
applies more particularly to JEngland. 

From these considerations it cannot be a matter of 
surprise that many of our citizens are constantly 
casting their eyes across the Atlantic — And it cannot 
be a matter of surprise that, with foreign manufac- 
tures and foreign literature, we have imported many 
idea.s^ foreign to our republican institutions, and hos- 
tile to that happy simplicity of manners and of life 
upon which the preservation of these institutions es- 
sentially depend. But at the present time the spirit 
of the country seems to be awaked, and its true inter- 
ests to be better understood. The want of a foreign 
market for our bread stuffs, provisions, and other ag- 
ricultural staples, together with the general distress 
and impoverishment of the country, from the exces- 
sive importation of foreign fabrics cannot, it is be- 
lieved, fail of giving a strong impulse to home manu- 
factures and industry. 

Among the numerous advantages which will result 
from this, will be the influence which it cannot fail 
of having upon the commercial interests of the coun- 
try. Whatever effects the amount and description 
of the exports or imports of a country, in the same 
ratio effects its commercial relations. New exports 



.^9t^ LiFE Oi' 

require new markets. The extensioii oi manufac- 
tiiring industry in the United States, will greatly va- 
ry the character of its exports and imports, and con- 
sequently essentially effect its commercial relations; 
and the independence of the several provinces of 
South America, which, as it respects the commercial 
world, is like the creation of a new continent, will 
eontribute largely to the same result. If the newly 
established governments in South America maintain 
their independence, of which now we have no appre- 
bensions, there can be no doubt but that our com- 
mercial relations with that country will become im- 
portant. But it is not merely commercial relations 
which we ought to contemplate to maintain with 
South America. These two continents of the new 
world, being alike remote from, and no way concern- 
ed in, the politics of Europe, from whence proceed 
their numerous wars ; enjoying the blessings of a 
free government, and being alike interested in de- 
fending the fundamental principles of civil liberty 
and the rights of man, ought to cultivate and main- 
tain the most cordial and friendly political relations. 
Both commercial and political considerations, there- 
fore, render it important for the citizens of the United 
States to acquaint themselves with the country and 
the political affairs of South America. But the na- 
ture of this work, if we possessed the materials, 
would not admit of our going into this subject. We 
win. however, give a concise view of the river Ori- 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 293 

noco, and the country bordering upon it, and a briel 
notice of some of the heading political events of the 
Republic of Venezeula. 

The Orinoco is a river of great extent and nnagni- 
tude, being, as it respects the rivers of South Arner- 
ica, inferior in point of size only to the majestic riv- 
ers Amazon and La Plate. It has its sources in the 
neighbourhood of the Andes, and after running about 
1200 miles in a north-easterly direction, discharges 
its wa^^ers into the Atlantic, at about nine degrees 
north latitude, forming one of the most extensive and 
fertile vallies in the world. This interesting vale, 
comprises immense tracts of alluvial, affording ex- 
tensive resources for agricultural and commercial 
opulence, which, however, in a great measure re- 
main to be developed. The Orinoco possesses al- 
most unrivalled navigable advantages, sloops ascen- 
ding as far up as Angostura, more than 300 miles from 
its mouth, and smaller vessels and boats several hun- 
dred miles farther. The most extraordinary chaiac- 
teristic of this river, is its astonishing inundations^ 
which almost stagger belief. These inundations ex- 
tend 600 miles from the mouth of tlie river, and are 
said to cover a district of country from sixty to ninety 
miles in width. For 200 miles from the mouth of 
the river, the country is so generally level, that the 
inundations render it uninhabitable ; but further up 
there are elevated sections which avoid the inunda- 
tions. Those astonishing freshets, during which the 



294 



LIFE OF 



river becomes a vast inland sea, usually commence 
in April, and continue to August. They are most 
extensive above Angostura. The borders of the 
river, like those of the Nile, being inundated for this 
lengtliy period, acquire an iijexhaustible fertility. — 
The country lying on the south of the Orinoco, has 
heretofore been denominated Spanish Guvana, and 
is of great extent, being nearly 1200 miles in length, 
and between two and three hundred miles in breadth, 
and altliough extremely fertile, and possessing an 
admirable climate, it has a population of only about 
34,000 souls. This fertile and intercsling country 
was a Spanish Province, attacfhed to the Captain 
Generalship of Carraccas, until 1817, when it was 
conquered and emancipated by the patriotic Bol- 
iver, the Washington of South America. It has 
since been annexed to the Republic of Venezula, 
which for nine years, has maintained a desperate 
•ind apparently unequal contest, with the most des- 
potic and sanguinary government that ever disgraced 
the page of history, for the defence of its rights and 
mdependence. Since the emancipation of Guyana, 
its capital, Angostura has been the seat of govern- 
ment of the Venezeulean Republic, and seems destin- 
ed to become the cradle of the Independence of 
Venezula and New-Granada, as at this place the in- 
defatigable Boliver has concentrated, and thence led 
forth his hardy bands, consisting of natives and for- 
eigners, who, from a spirit of adventure or patriot- 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 295 

ism, embarked in the cause of the South American 
patriots, to the relief of his distressed brethren, and 
to put down the authority of Spain ; and hath final- 
]y, by a perseverance ahnost unexampled, and the 
smiles of Providence, succeeded in rescuing a large 
portion of the country from the tyrannical colonial 
dominion of Spain, and from the capricious and arbi- 
trary power of that sanguinary monster, the ruthless 
and blood-stained Morillo. 

Angostura is situated on the left bank of the riv- 
er, more than 300 miles from the sea, and at the 
head of sloop navigation, having for its site the de- 
clivity of a hill. It is built of brick, the houses being 
one story high, with tiled roofs and wooden gratings, 
instead of pancd windows, the mildness of the cli- 
mate rendering it unnecessary to make any provis- 
ion for the cold. The town contains about 10,000 
inhabitants, a considerable proportion of which are 
Creoles, and the residue Spaniards and Europeans. 
Since the place has been in the possession of the 
Patriots, in consequence of the war in which the 
country is engaged, its commerce has considerably 
declined. What there is, is carried on chiefly with 
the West-Indias. The exports consist of mules, 
cattle, hides, tallow, jerked beef, &c., and the im- 
ports, of dry goods and groceries of every descrip- 
tion. 

From the extensive and fertile country which 
communicates with Aogostura, and from the facility 



296 LIFE OF 

of its intercourse with the West-Indies and the At- 
lantic, it cannot fail, with the blessings of peace and 
a good government, of becoming a great and flour- 
ishing commercial town. There is a great want of 
enterprising merchants, and of commercial capital. 
At the time the Nonsuch was there, goods of every 
description were extremely high ; flour commanded 
twenty dollars per barrel. The vast regions of alhi- 
vial, serve as pastures after the freshets subside, for 
the immense droves of wild cattle with which the 
country abound?. The hunting and catchirjg wild 
cattle and mules, is a trade, and those engaged in it 
become astonishingly expert horsemen. The cattle 
of the country arc very large and the horses beauti- 
ful animals. 

In 1811, a considera])le proportion of the country 
which is now called Venezeula, threw oiTthe Spanish 
yoke and declared itself independent, which, with 
considerable difliculty, it maintained until 1815, pre- 
viously to which a spirit of revolution and resistance 
to Spanish colonial despotism, had extended to the 
adjoining Province of New-Granada. In 1815 and 
1816, a considerable part, both of Venezeula and 
New-Granada, was reconquered by the Spanish Gen- 
eral Morillo. In 1817 the spirit of independence 
disclosed itself again, with a more extensive impulse 
and effect, and the following year a systematic re- 
publican government was established at Angostura, 
with Boliver at its head, being President and Com. 



OLIVER H. PERRY. i97 

Viiander in Chief of the armies of the Republic, — ■ 
Since that period, a regular government has been 
maintained and duly administered, to which the gov- 
ernment of the United States have sent several mis- 
sions, one in 1818, and that of Commodore Perry in 
1819, here noticed. 

Perry, as we have already suggested, was receiv- 
ed with great attention at Angostura. On the 14th 
August, a few days after his arrival, he, with all the 
officers of the Nonsuch, received an invitation to 
dine with the Vice-President. The following days 
being Sunday, the new Constitution of the Republic 
was adopted and signed, amidst the discharge of can- 
eon. Its principles are more energetic, and its pro- 
visions more aristocratical than those of the Constitu- 
tion of the United States, although not more so, per- 
haps, than the condition of the country required. — 
The naval force of the Republic at that time was 
about twenty vessels, consisting of brigs, schooners 
and gun boats. 

Commodore Perry adjusted his business with the 
Venezeulean government to his entire satisfaction, 
when he proceeded down the river in a tender, the 
schooner Nonsuch having previously gone down. 
He was in good health when he left Angostura, but 
received a slight attack of a fever at the bar of the 
river. Here he embarked on board the schooner 
Nonsuch, which proceeded for Port Spain, in the 
island of Trinidad, whither the John Adams had pre-^ 



298 LIFE OP 

vioasly gone. After Commodore Perry entered on 
board the Nonsuch, his fever rapidly increased, and 
notwithstanding the greatest exertions were made to 
shorten the voyage and hasten his arrival at Port 
Spain, where every assistance could have been pro- 
cured, and every convenience enjoyed, they were 
upwards of five days on the passage. As soon as the 
Nonsuch anchored in the gulf, at which time the fe- 
ver had arrived to an alarming crisis. Perry was re- 
moved to the John Adams, and in a quarter of an hour 
he expired, on the evening of the 23d of August, 
1819, aged 34 years. — Thus fell the gallant Perry, a 
victim to the relentless hand of disease, ere the me- 
ridian of his age, and before his well earned laurels 
had scarcely bloomed upon his brows — leaving his 
country in tears, and a reputation which shall trans- 
mit his name to the latest posterity. Although he 
fell in a foreign land, and among the inhabitants of a 
country with which his own had recentl} been engaged 
in war, and by the defeat and capture of whose na- 
val forces on lake Erie, he had acquired his exalted 
reputation, his death made a serious impression, and 
his remains received the honour due to his rank and 
character. — It was the intention of the officers to 
have conveyed the body to the United States, but 
the surgeon iDformed them that it was impractica- 
ble. Accordingly on the following day it was com- 
mitted to the grave with every markof attention and 
respect ori' the part of the civil and military authori- 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 299 

ties, and the inhabitants of the town. At 4 o'clock, 
P. M. the 3d West-India regiment was marched to 
the King's wharf to receive the corps, and about ^ 
o'clock the boat with the body left the John Adams, 
that ship firing minute guns until it arrived at the 
wharf, when the firing of minute guns was commenc- 
ed by fort St. Andrews, which were continued until 
the procession reached the place of interment. The 
following was the order of procession : 

Chief of Police and his Deputy. 

The 3d West-India regimeut, with arms reversed, the officers 

with white scarfs and hat-bands. 

The band of th^ regiment, playing the dead march in Saul. 

The Commandant of the garrison and his stafif, with scarfs anc8 

hat-b^nds. 



ilcaids of Barios. 
Three officers 
on horseback 
as Bearers. 



O 



Alcaids of Barios. 
Three officers 
on horseback, 
as Bearers. 



Chief \lonrners. 

The Officers of the John i4 dams and Nonsuch, two and two, 

A great number of respectable inhabiiants, as Mourners, two 

and two. 

One hundred and twenty men of the crews of the John Adams 

gnd Notisiich, two and two. 

On arriving at the entrance of the burying ground, 
the troops filed off and formed a line for the proces- 
sion to pass through. The funeral service was per- 
formed by the Rev. Mr. Clapham, in a solemn and 
impressive manner ; and after the remains were com- 



300 LIFE OF 

mitted to their final repository, the troops fired three 
vollies of musketry in the usual manner. The occa- 
sion was solemn and impressive — All were sensibly 
affected, and retired with every mark of sympathetic 
grief, for the premature death of a distinguished and 
excellent officer, and a brave and victorious man. 

Commodore Ferry Trained his faculties to the lastj 
was composed and resigned, and submitted to his fate 
with great resolution and fortitude, dying as he had 
lived — as became a great and good man. — He left 
a widow and four young children, three sons and an 
infant daughter, to lament the sudden and early death 
of the best of husbands and parents. His widow was 
Miss Elizabeth Mason, daughter of Dr. Mason of 
Newport, to whom he was married in 183 0, 



m 



-JLIVETI H^ PERRY. 



CHAPTER VIIL 

G'F,r„eral remarks on the human chiiracier — the character ofPer^ 
cfji — fiis public career—his personal services in the action upon 
lake Erie—his humanity after the victory— his patriotism and 
devotion to the service — his death regarded as a public calami- 
ty—public demonstrations of sorrcrv—the immortality^ of his 
fame. 

We have now completed the history of Perry, 
having, and it is hoped with some degree of accuracy, 
traced his public course, from his first entering into 
the service of his country, to the summit of his glo- 
ry, and from thence to that scene where " human 
greatness ends." It only remains to make some re- 
marks upon his character, and to notice the effect 
which his death occasioned. 

There is, perhaps, no subject involving more dif- 
ficulty than that of a delineation oftndividual charac- 
ter. This is owing to various considerations, but 
principally to the want of fixed and permanent charac- 
teristics ; to the nice and indistinct discriminations as 
to the faculties of the mind, and qualities of the heart ; 
to the strange union of intellectual and moral quali- 
ties, essentially different and often diametrically op- 
posite, and to the influence of circumstances, which 

26 



302 LIFE OF 

in their nature are unstable and varying, upon the 
moral, social, and intellectual character of man. — ■ 
Not only the nice and delicate, but often the most 
prominent features of the human character, from their 
relations to others, and the neutralizing influence of 
opposing characteristics, are confused and indistinct 
in their identity, and equivocal in their character. 
The field of intellect is unlike that of nature. There, 
the indications of a rich or a sterile soil are far from 
being conspicuous or uniform ; and instead of a reg- 
ular connection of blossom and fruit, it is most fre° 
quently the case that where we behold the richest 
verdure and the most interesting variety of flowers, 
the soil is least capable of sustaining vegetation, and 
of bringing its rich fruits to maturity. There, the 
vigorous germs, disclosed by the spring, and which 
promise an abundant harvest, are often blighted 
without frost or drought, and languish and decline, 
apparently for the want of that strength of soil, the 
existence of which their premature growth seemed to 
indicate. Where the understanding appears the 
most sound and discriminating, we are often con- 
strained to witness the most striking indiscretions and 
the most palpable aberrations cf judgment. Where 
the passions appear to be most happily attempered, 
and when undisturbed produce the most harmonious 
results, it sometimes happens that these " elements 
of our life" are most easily agitated, and when they 
are, disclose a pecuhar violeoce. Where we find a 



OLIVER H. PERRY. 303 

heart the most humane and benevolent, it freqnent- 
\y occurs that its sympathies are excited by the 
most unworthy objects ; and where there are the 
strongest moral feelings, and the greatest abhorrence 
of vice, wo too often find a spirit of illiberality, and 
the most odious and unworthy prejjjdices. 

Where there are no extraordinary qualities of the 
head or heart, it is a common idea, that a man cannot 
be considered as great, or as having any claims to 
admiration. Nothing can be more incorrect than this. 
To excel greatly in any one thing, is generally to be 
deficient in many others. A good poet is seldom a 
good mathematician, and vice versa ; excentricities 
are often mistaken for genius. The possession of an 
extraordinary talent, or virtue, frequently seems to 
impair all others, and to destroy that balance of fac- 
ulties, and that harmony of feeling and of sentiment, 
which are so essential to the human character. But 
what is a greater obstacle with those who attach great 
importance to extraordinary qualities, is the charac- 
teristic limits which are prescribed to all human pow- 
ers and virtues. The boundaries between different 
qualities of mind, and between the moral virtues, be- 
come indistinct in the same ratio in which you ap- 
proximate to the extremes, and finally disappear — 
their characteristic qualities being entirely lost. 
Great courage is nearly allied to temerity ; generos- 
ity to profusion; firmness to obstinacy; excess of 
zeal, degenerates to intolerance and persecution ; of 



304 LILE OP 

friendship to favouritism ; of caution to timiciit}' ; ot 
benevolence to weakness ; avarice often arises froni 
indulging a little too far, a just regard to one's own 
interests, and ambition frequently proceeds from pat- 
riotism, the purest of all virtues. It is true, that a 
character, possessed of extraordinary qualities, and 
marked by striking eccentricities, may excite our ad- 
miration, but cannot claim our profound respect* 
We may admire those we cannot esteemi, and whom 
we would much less wish to imitate. The most " per- 
fect character." is that which excites the most lively 
and striking ideas of utility. In such a character, 
we are not to look for a single prominent feature, 
which destroys the proper ballance of intellect ; we 
are not surprised by those meteor-like qualities, which 
shine with a portentous brilliancy. No single cha= 
racteristic forcibly attracts our attention, but the en- 
tire character excites our admiration and esteem. On 
contemplating such a character, the mind is imper- 
ceptibly lost in rei-pect and admiration. The view 
presents no striking features ; no intellectual pro- 
montories, nor deepening glens, which surprise at 
first, and then cease to attract attention ; but it is 
more like a regular landscape, having sufficient va= 
riety to please, with that richness of verdure, and 
luxuriancy of soil which excites our esteem, without 
occasioning surprise, and which, the more it is con- 
templated, the more it is admired. It takes time to 
deveiope the resources $ind virtues of a character of 



OLIVER H. PERRV. 305 

this description ; like the precious metals, the more 
it is used the brighter it appears, and the more hi2:hly 
it is appreciated. Such was the character of 0/?T'er 
Hazard Perry ^ distinguished by no prominent fea- 
tures, by no pre-eminent characteristics, he challen- 
ged the admiration and esteem of all who knew him. 
He possessed an excellent understanding, an uncom- 
mon share of prudence, and a mind alike capable of 
reflection and of activity, rendering him peculiarly 
qualitied for great and heroic achievements. From 
his comprehensive views, his acute sagacity, and the 
justness of his combinations, his decisions were al- 
ways prompt and judicious. His deportment, both 
in his public and private relations, was peculiarly 
amiable and unassuming. Conscious of his abilities 
and worth, he was apparently unconcerned about his 
own reputation, and only anxious that justice should 
be done to the merits of others. He was one of the 
{q.\y with whom the character of the man was not lost 
in that of the hero. " The rays of glory which were 
collected on his brow, shot no envious gleams to daz» 
zle and subdue, but diffused a moonlight serenity 
mild and tender, which led to confidence and ended 
in affection. Ho wore his laurels with a modesty so 
sincere and unaffected, that of all men, he appeared 
the most ignorant of their existence, or of the mighty 
and unanswerable claim he had put in for immortali 
iy." But however we may respect the virtues of 
(he man^ it is the public officer and hero, which chal- 

26^ 



^^'^ LIFE OF 

lenge our admiration. The public career of Com- 
modore Perry was one of peculiar merit and brillian- 
cv, and will long remain an illustrious example, 
which, whilst it will receive the admiration of all, 
will impart the breath of inspiration to the future na- 
val heroes of his country. His course was not like 
the irregular orbit, nor his brilliancy like the omin- 
ous flashes of the meteor, which appears as a stran- 
ger in our system ; but more resembled the regular 
revolution, and the steady blaze of a star of the tirst 
magnitude. Whether in a humble or an exalted sta- 
tion, in prosperity or adversity, whether encounter- 
ing the elements, and his barque wrecked upon the 
tempestuous surge, or riding triumphant, after victo- 
ry and the conquest of the enemies of his country, 
whether in the '• fury of the fight," or in the calm 
which ensues, consecrated to humanity, the admira- 
ble qualities of his character appear conspicuous , 
he is equally cool, resolute, brave and humane. 

We do not wish in this place to advert to the bat- 
de of lake Erie, but as we have not done it elsewhere 
justice requires that we should make a few remarks 
which intimately concern the iridividual services and 
merit of Perry on that memorable occasion. From 
the general character and result of that action, it can- 
not fail of being ranked among the most splendid 
achievements of the age ; but there are some cir- 
cumstances attending it which are without any ex- 
ample, aod which tend greatly to swell the fame of 



Oliver h. perry. 307 

the hero of it, and to brighten the lustre of his repu- 
tation. There have been victories of greater magni- 
tude, where a larger aggregate offerees have been 
engaged, where the means of destruction have been 
on a larger scale, and where there has been an am- 
pler flow of blood ; but neither the pages of ancient 
or modern history, record a victory which depended 
in so eminent a degree, upon the valour and exer- 
tions of the successful commander ; where the wis- 
dom of his designs, and the valour, skill, and impor= 
tance of his personal services appear so conspicuous, 
and are so intimately connected with the issue of the 
contest 5 where, in fine, all attendant circumstances 
combined to give him so prominent and commanding 
a station, and to stamp upon him the character of a 
hero. It is a circumstance that ought never to be 
forgotten, as shewing the high estimation in which 
Perry was then held by the government, and the crit=- 
leal situation in which he was placed, that the Navy 
Department confided to him the vast responsibility 
of determining when the contest for supremacy upon 
the lake, upon which not only the honour of our flag 
but the whole operations of the war upon that frontier, 
and the security of an extensive border depended, 
should be brought to a decision. But not only did 
the period of time as to when the action was to be 
fought, depend upon his judgment, but hkewise that 
*' critical moment" when by a measure equally nov- 
el and bold, he decided the issue of the contest. It 



308 LIFE OF 

was at this momentous crisis, that it might be more 
emphatically said, he "me/ the enemy and they zuere 
oizr^." But his bravery, skill, activity and prompt 
decision in action, were not more conspicuous than 
his humanity and magnanimity in victory. With the 
expiring note of the enemy's cannon, every act of 
hostility ceased, and the grim visage of war was suc- 
ceeded by the mild aspect of a benignant philanthro- 
py. Perry, forgetful that he was a conqueror, and 
that the British were enemies, animated by the no- 
blest sentiments of humanity, approached the couch 
of agony and dispair, and by the most kind and sym- 
pathetic treatment, attempted to staunch the wounds 
and solace the feelings of the sufferers whom the for- 
tune of war had placed in his hands. The wounded 
and bleeding Barclay, from defeat and despair, more 
agonized in his feelings, than from his wounds, was 
astonished at the magnanimity of the American hero ; 
and at being saluted, not by the voice of a conqueror 
with a countenance irradiated by the blaze of victo- 
ry, but by the mild and consoling accents of kindness 
and condolence. 

In noticing the public character of Commore Per- 
ry, we should do injustice to his memory not to ad- 
vert to his extraordinary devotion to the fiorvice in 
which he was engaged, and of which he was the 
brightest ornament, and to that distinguished patriot- 
ism which characterised his whole public career, and 
which gave an impulse to those astonishing efforts 



OLIVER n. PERRV. 309 

of bravery and skill, to which we are indebted for 
one of the most splendid achievements in the annals 
of our country. 

Although the victory to which we have alluded, 
depended less upon accidental and fortuitous cir- 
cumstances, than almost any other recorded in histo- 
ry, yet it may be said, and perhaps with justice, that 
Perry was in some measure indebted to fortune for 
his distinguished reputation. He was fortunate in 
having an opportunity to display his great abilitieSj 
which no difficulties could discourage, and his cool 
intrepidity, which no dangers could appal. But 
who ever acquired immortal fame, that was not in 
some measure indebted to fortune ; and how many 
are there who now live in the page of history, whose 
reputation, and whose immortality, was almost en- 
tirely the result of fortune, and of circumstances for** 
eign to their own merits, talents or services. How 
many are borne upon the tide of time, whose fame a 
*' breath could ruin as a breath had made." 

The reputation of Perry was the result of his own 
merit and achievements. How unlike those, falsely 
styled great, who bask in the sunshine of Princes' ta= 
vours, and live upon their smiles. The laurels which 
bloomed upon his brows, were won by his own val- 
our, and the magnificent column of his fame, wiiich 
will endure for ages after the monumental marble 
shall have crumbled into dust, was raised by his con- 
summate prowess aad skill. As his services were de 



310 LIFE OF 

voted to his country, he left her an inheritance in his 
reputation and example. His fame has become the 
property of his country; his achievements interwo- 
ven in the tissue of her history ; his renown her 
greatest glory — his example her undying instruction. 
His death, which was equally glorious with his life, 
his characteristic firmness, resolution and presence 
of mind having remained to the last, was justly regard- 
ed as a national calamity. Considering him only in 
the light of a hero, there is one circumstance which 
might have added to the glory of his character — his 
h:iving, like Nelson, died in battle, and his pure spir- 
it taking its flight in the moment of victory. But if 
we contemplate him as a man and a philosopher, we 
shall see more to admire in his death in the manner 
in which it happened. The hero, who is accustomed 
to view the approach of the ' king of terrors,' clothed 
in the gorgeous trappings of war, and surrounded with 
its grand, hut terrific pomp and splendour, frequent- 
ly wants that patient resignation, and that cool phi- 
losophy, which are requisite to meet this last enemy, 
when, in the odious character of disease, with listless 
stillness and unseen, he makes his slow approaches, 
unattended with any circumstances calculated to 
give a buoyancy to the spirit, or sustain the soul. — 
But although such was the "closing scene'' of our 
hero, his great abilities and his steady bravery did 
not forsake^him : he died as he had lived — as became 
a great and good man,— That the fall of a man so 



OLIVER M. i^ERRY. 311 

pre-eminently distinguished and useful, in the spring- 
tide of life, which promised a long career of useful- 
ness and glory, of fresh honours and distinctions, of 
new acts of bravery and patriotism, and laurels ufa 
more brilliant and unfading lustre, should have been 
considered as a national calamity, cannot be a sub- 
ject of surprise. All felt it such ; all participated in 
the general sorrow, and a nation's tears bedewed the 
hallowed urn of her favourite son. It is believed 
that in the records of mortality, no other event since 
the demise of General Washington, in 1 799, occasion- 
ed such general sensations of sorrow and regret — sue h 
universal and lively sympathy. In addition to the 
usual demonstrations of respect to the memory of dis- 
tinguished public oflScers, proceeding from the na- 
tional authorities, in most of the large cities and towns 
throughout the country, the public feeling disclosed 
itself by corresponding testimonials of sorrow. It 
was not merely the external drapery of mourning, but 
the expression of a lively sentiment of grief and re- 
gret, for the illustrious dead — a gallant and youthful 
hero, who was scarcely more distinguished by his he- 
roic achievements, than by the manly graces and vir- 
tues that adorned his character. In several of the 
states, the constituted authorities adopted resolu- 
tions expressive of their high estimation of his impor- 
tant services and distinguished reputation, and of the 
sense which they entertained of the irreparable loss 
the country had sustained in his death, and of its ob- 



312 LIFE OF 

ligations to perpetuate its gratitude to his memory.— 
Among the states whose legislatures adopted resolu- 
tions in honour of the memory of Perry, were Rhode- 
Island, his native state, and South-Carolina. 

Neither were the national authorities wanting, in 
the expression of their respect. At the opening of 
the session of Congress, which followed his death, 
the President of the United States noticed that event 
in his message to Congress, as a public loss, and a 
calamity to the country j and during the session, a 
resolution was introduced relating to this subject, 
l?hich was followed by a bill, providing for the sup- 
port of his bereaved widow, and the education of his 
<:hildren at the public expense ; which, it is presum- 
ed, will become a law, in its present shape, or with 
some modifications. In this country, the maxim, 
that *' a nation's gratitude is the heroh best reivard,^^ 
is more emphatically true, and more happily exem- 
plified, than in most others. Here, no titles, digni- 
ties and estates are conferred, and no honours, but 
the spontaneous expressions of public and private ad- 
miration and gratitude. Here, public opinion is the 
only standard of merit, and the sole arbitress of pub- 
lic honours. This is a tribunal which corruption 
cannot reach, favouptism assail, nor power control ; 
and which, if at times it is influenced by passion and 
prejudice, in the end never fails to award the meed 
of praise, where it is due. When slanderous tongues, 
and malevolent hearts assail the hero's '* fair fame,'* 



OLIVER H. fERRY, ^i 1 S 

and tke viperous stings of envy poison the life-blood 
cf his reputation ; when from a spijji* of faction, or 
of prejudice, his achievements or renown are im- 
puted to him as crimes, and w^hen unprincipled de- 
magogues conspire to immolate the great and the 
good, at the shrine of their ambition, then, indeed, is 
public opinion no longer a standard of merit, or a tri- 
bunal of justice. But the storms of passion, like 
those of the elements, do not last long, and when the 
clouds which darken the reputation of the hero or 
the patriot, disappear, it shines with a brighter lus- 
tre — And when this event does not take place before? 
it follows the setting sun of his earthly glory. There 
is a consecrating influence in the grave which gives 
a consummation to the character of the great. Their 
virtues then shine with a more steady lustre. No 
speck nor cloud obscures the azure space sacred to 
memories. Although Perry was universally admir- 
ed and beloved during his life, he was adored at his 
death ; and his country appeared never until then^ 
to have duly appreciated his worth, or to have been 
sensible of the vast debt of gratitude which slie owed 
him. His illustrious name, wbich 

" Long sliall blaze an iniextingcii^hM ray, 
A mighty beacou lij^hting glory's way," 

will never cease to bo revered by his country ; and 
in future times, when an enlightened population;, 
commensurate with the extent of its territory, shall 
enliven its bosom, overspreading the vast region? of 

27 



314 LIFE OF PERRY. 

4 

the west, where now the solitary savage roams, and 
carrying the blessings of civilization to the shores of 
the Pacific ; when its vast resources shall be devel- 
oped by the hand of industry and the arts ; when its 
free institutions, free press, and free suffrage, shall 
have raised it to that exalted destiny which awaits it ; 
when its power shall be hmited only by its justice, 
and when its navy, having " grown with its growth 
and strengthened with its strength," shall provoke a 
contest for the dominion of the ocean, then will the 
laurels of Perry, instead of having faded by the waste 
of time, assume a brighter lustre — then shall his 
name be canonized, his memory adored, and his ex- 
ample inspire thousands of the future naval heroes 
of his country to deeds of patriotic heroism and im- 
mortal renown. — Such being the gratitude of our 
country, and the immortality of her heroes, they need 
oot the moulding marble's aid, nor the sculptor's art : 

" How vain the mere iuscripllon 
Debauch'd on any tomb ; on every grave 
A lying trophy ; and as oft is dumb. 
Where dust and dark oblivion is the tomb 
Of houour'd bones indeed." 

Sdakespeare. 



APPENDIX 



BIOGRAPHY 

OF 

BRIG- GEN. ZEBULON M. TIKE 



Zebulon Montgomery Pike was born at Lam- 
berton, in the state of New- Jersey, January 5th, 1779. 
His father was a respectable otiicer in the army of the 
United States. His family had for several gesiera- 
tions resided in New-Jersey, and were descended 
from a Captain John Pike, whose name is preserved 
hy tradition as having been a gallant and distinguish- 
ed soldier in the early Indian wars of the colony. 
He entered the army while yet a boy, an^^ served for 
some time as a cadet in his father's company, which 
was then stationed on the western frontiers of the 
United States. At an early age he obtained the 
comtnission of ensign, and some time aft* r, that of 
lieutenant in the 1st regiment of infantry. He was 
thns almost from his cradle, trained to the habits of 
a military life ; bat he did not, like most of the 
peaceful veterans of the barracks and the parade, 
while away his days in inactivity, contented with the 
mechanical routine of military duty. By a life of 



313 BIOGRAPHY OF 

constant activity and exposure, he invigorated his 
constitution, and prepared himself for deeds of har- 
dihood and adventure. At the same tiwe he endea- 
voiired to supply the deticiency of his early educa- 
tion hy most ardent, though, probably, often desulto- 
ry and ill-re,;((ilated application to every branch of 
useful kiiowleds^e. lie had entered the army with 
no otlur education than such is afforded by the most 
ordiiiary vilhage scIjooI — reading, writing, and a lit- 
tle arithmetic. By his own solitary exertions he ac- 
quired, almost without the aid of a master, the 
French and i.atin languages, the former of which, it 
appears from his journal, he was able to write and 
speak wiih sufficient accuracy for all the purposes of 
business ; to these he afterwards added a competent 
knowledge of the Spanish. Re also studied the el- 
omer>tary branches of mathematics, and became very 
conversant and even skilful in all the ordinary prac- 
tical applications of that science. He seems, besides 
(o have had a general curiosity, to which no kind of 
knowiediie was without interest. He read with avid- 
ity every book which fell in his way, and thus, with- 
out any regular plan of study, acquired a considera- 
ble stock of various information, and some tincture 
of popular English literature. In most of these iite- 
lary acquirements. Pike scarcely attained to the ac- 
curacy of tne scholar, but they were such as became 
the gentleman, and elevated and adorned the char- 
acter of the soldier. Nor were these studies direct- 
ed solely to the irnprovemeiit of the mind ; he en- 
deavoured to make them subservient to a much high- 
er end. From his youth he sedulously cultivated in 
himselfa generous spirit of chivalry ; not that punc- 
tilious and barren honour which cheaply satisfies it- 
self with the reputation of personal courage and free- 
dom from disreputable vice, but the chivalry of the 



ZEBULON M. PIKE. 31^ 

ancient school of European honour — that habit of 
manly and virtuous sentiment, that spirit of patriot- 
ism and self-devotion, which, while it roots out from 
the heart every other weakness of natijre, spares and 
cherishes '^ that last infirmity of noble minds," the 
love of glory, and in every great emergency in which 
man may be called upon to act, sends him forth into 
the service of his country or his kind, at once obey- 
ing the commands of duty, and elevated and anima- 
ted by the warm impulse of eiUhusiastic feeling. 

Among other habits of mental discipline by which- 
Pike was accustomed to cherish these principles and 
feelings, was a constant practice of inserting upon 
the blank pages of some favourite volume, such 
striking maxims of morality, or sentiments ofhonoufj 
as occurred in his reading, or were suggested by his 
own reflections. He had been in the practice of 
making use of a small edition of Dodsley's " Econo- 
my of Human Lit'b," for this purpose. Soon after 
bis marriage, he presented this volume to his wife, 
who still preserves it as one of the most precious me- 
morials of her husband's virtues. An extract from 
one of the manuscript pages of this volume was pub- 
lished in a periodical work soon after his death. It 
was written as a continuation of the article '• Sincer« 
ity," and is strongly characteristic of the author. 

" Should my country call for the sacrifice of that 
life which has been devoted to her service from ear^ 
]y youth, noost willingly shall she receive it. The sod 
which covers the brave shall be moistened by the 
tears of love and friendship 5 but if I fall far from my 
friends and from you, my Clara, remember that ' the 
choisest tears which are ever shed, are those which 
bedew the unburicd head of the soldier,' and when 
these lines shall meet the eyes of our young ******-j 
let the pages of this little book be impressed on his 



320 BIOGRAPHY OF 

mind as the e;Ift of a father who had nothing to be- 
queath but his honour, and let these maxims be ever 
present to his miiid as he rises from jouth to man- 
hood : 

" 1. Preserve jour honour free from blemish. 

" 2. Be always ready to die for your coui\try. 

Z. M. Pike. 

'' Kaskasias, Indiana Territory." 

Thus i^ifted with a lofty spirit of honour, and a.n 
iron constitution, Pike presents to the imagination 
no imperfect resemblance of one of the cavaliers of 
the sixteenth century, the hardy, steel-clad compan- 
ions of Bayard and Sidney. 

In March 1801, he married Miss Clarissa Brown, 
of Cincinnati, in the state of Kentucky. By this 
marriage he had several children, only one of whom, 
a dausjhter survives him. 

On the old peace establishment of our army, then 
composr-d only of a few regiments, and employed al- 
together in garrisoning a few frontier posts, promo- 
tion was slow, and the field of action limited and ob- 
scure. For several years Lieutenant Pike, panted 
in vain for an opportunity of gratifying thnt '' all-rul- 
ing passion" which, to use his own words, "• swayed 
him irresistibly to the profession of arms, and the 
pursuits of military glory." 

At length, in 1805, a new career of honourable 
distinction was opened to this active and aspiring 
youth. Soon after the purchase of Louisiana, the 
government of the United States determined upon 
taking measures to explore their new territorv, and 
that immense tract of wilderness, included within its 
limits. Besides ascertaining its geographical boun- 
daries, it was wished to acquire some knowledge of 
its soil and natural productions, of the course of its 
rivess, and their titness for the purposes of navigatioi^ 



ZEBULON M. PIKE, 3'2l 

and other uses of civilized life, and also to gain par- 
ticiilar information of the nunnbers, character, and 
power of the tribes of Indians who inhabited this ter- 
ritory, and their several dispositions towards the 
United States, With these views, vi^hile Captains 
Lewis and Clarke were sent to explore the unknown 
sources of the Missouri, Pike was despatched on a 
similar expedition for the purpose of tracing the Mis- 
sissippi to its head. 

On the 9th of August, 1805, Pike accordingly em- 
barked at St. Louis, and proceeded up the Mississip- 
pi, with twenty men, in a stout boat, provisioned for 
four months, but they were soon obliged to leave 
their boat and proceed on their journey by land, or 
in canoes, which they built after leaving their boat, 
and carried with them on their march. Pike's own 
journal has been for some time before the public, 
and affords a much more satisfactory narrative of the 
expedition than the narrow hmits of a magazine ar- 
ticle will allow. For eight months and twenty days 
this adventurous soldier and his faithful band were 
almost continually exposed to hardship and peril, de- 
pending for provisions upon the precarious fortunes 
of the chase, enduring the most piercing cold, and 
cheerfully submitting to the most constant and har- 
rassint; toils. They were sometimes for days to- 
gether without food, and they frequently slept with- 
out cover on the bare earth, or the snow, during the 
bitterest inclemency of a norlhern winter. During 
this voyage, Pike had no intelligent companion upon 
whom he could rely for any sort of advice or aid, 
and he literally performed the duties of astronomer, 
surveyor, commanding officer, clerk, spy, guide, and 
hunter, frequently preceding the party for many 
miles, in order to reconnoitre, or rambling lor whole 
days in search of deer or other game for provision^ 



322 BiOGKAPHY OF 

and then returning to his men in the evening, hun 
gry and fatigued, he would sit down in the open air, 
to copy by the light of a fire the notes of his journey, 
and to plot out the courses of the next day. 

His conduct towards. the Indians was marked with 
equal good sense, firmness, and humanity ; he every 
where, without violence or fraud, induced them to 
submit to the government of the United States, and 
he made use of the authority of his country to put an 
end to a savage warfare, which had for many years 
been carried on with the utmost cruelty and rancour 
between the Sioux and the Chippeways, two of the 
most powerful nations of Aborigines remaining on 
the North American contiiient. He also every where 
enforced with effect the laws of the United States 
against supplying the savages with spiritous liquors. 
Thus, while he wrested their tomahawks from their 
hands, and compelled them to bury the hatchet, he 
defended them from their own vices, and in the true 
spirit of humanity and honour, rejected with disdain 
that cruel and dastardly policy which seeks the secu- 
rity of the civilizxd man in the debasement of the 
savage. 

In addition to the other objerts of Pike's mission, 
as specifically detailed in his instructions, lie con- 
ceived that his duty as a soldier required of him an 
investigation of the views aud conduct of the British 
traders, within the limits of our jurisdiction, and an 
enquiry into the exact limits of the territories of the 
United States and Great-Britain. This duty he per- 
formed, says the author of a former sketch of his bi- 
ography, with the boldness of a soldier, and the po- 
liteness of a gentleman ; he might have justly added, 
with the disinterestedness of a man of honour, and the 
ability and discretion of an enlightened politician. 
He found that the North-west company, by extend- 



ZEBULON M. PIKB» 3«3 

ing their establishments and commerce far within the 
bounds of the United States, and even into the very 
centre of Louisiana, were thus enabled to introduce 
their ^oods without duty or licence into our territo- 
ries, to the very great injury of the revenue, as well 
as to the complete exclusion of our own countrymen 
from all competition in this trade. He perceived, 
besides, that these establishments were made subser- 
vient to the purposes of obtaining an influence over 
the savages dangerous to the peace, and injurious to 
the honour and character of our government ; and he 
thought it evident, that in case of a rupture between 
the two powers, all these posts would be used as ral- 
lying points for the enemy, and as places of deposite 
for arms to be distributed to the Indians, to'the infi-= 
nite annoyance, if not total ruin, of all the adjoining 
territories. 

An opportunity was now presented to him of en- 
riching himself for life, by merely using the power 
vested in him by law, and seizing upon the immense 
property of the company which he found illegally in- 
troduced within our territory. But having been hos- 
pitably received at one of their principal posts, his 
high sense of honour would not permit him to requite 
their hospitality by a rigorous execution of the laws. 
It is probable, too, that he thought so violent a mea- 
sure might lead to collisions between the two govern- 
ments, without tending to produce any permanent 
beneficial effect, and he cheerfully sacrificed all views 
of personal interest to what he conceived to be the 
true interest and honour of his country. By means 
of reprimands and threats to the inferior traders, and 
a frank and spirited remonstrance to the director of 
the Fond du Lao department, he succeeded in procu- 
ring a stipulation, that in future no attempts should 
be made to influence any Indian on pohtical affairS; 



324 BIOGRAPHY OF 

or any subjects foreign to trade, and that measures 
should be immediately taken to prevent the display 
of the British flag, or any other mark of power, with- 
in our dominion ; together with a promise that such 
representations should be immediately made to the | 
company, and such an arrangement effected with re- I 
gard to duties, as would hereafter set that question 
at rest. 

His conduct with regard to this subject was, at the 
time, viewed with cold approbation, but the events 
of the present war have borne ample testimony to 
his sagacity and foresight. 

Within two months after his return from this ex- 
pedition. Pike was selected by Generil Wilkinson 
for a second perilous journey of hardship and adven- 
ture. The principal purpose of this expedition was, 
like that of the former, to explore the interior of 
Louisiana. He was directed to embark at St. Louis 
with the Osage captives, (about forty in number,) who 
had been rescued from their enemies, the Potowatom- 
ies, by the interference of our government, and to 
transport them to the principal village of their na- 
tion : and he was instructed to take this opportunity 
to bring about interviews between the ditierent sav- 
a<Te nations, and to endeavour to assuage animosities, 
and establish a permanent peace among them. He 
was, after accomplishing these objects, to continue 
his route into the interior, and to explore the Missip- 
pi and its tributary streams, especially the Arkansaw 
and the Red River, and thus to acquire such geo- 
graphical information as might enable government 
to enter into definitive arrangements for a boundary 
hue petween our newly acquired territory and X»forth 
Mexico. 

In the course of this second journey, our adven- 
torou« soldier, after leaving the Osage village, en- 



ZBBULON M. PIKEo 32t' 

countered hardships, in comparison of which the se» 
verities ol his former journey seemed to him ease and 
luxury. 

Winter overtook the party unprovided with any 
clothing fit to protect them from cold and storms* 
Their horses died, and for weeks they were obliged 
to explore their way on foot through the wilderness, 
carrying packs of sixty or seventy pounds weight, 
beside their arms, exposed to the bitterest severity 
of the cold, relying solely on the produce of the chas€ 
for subsistence, and often for two or three days alto- 
gether without food. This part of his journal con- 
tains a narrative of a series of sufferings sufficient to 
make the " superfluous and lnst-diet<id" son of luxu- 
ry shudder at the bare recital. Several of the men 
had their feet frozen, and all, except Pike, and one 
other, were in some degree injured by the intensity 
of the cold. He thus relates the history of two of 
these dreary days : 

" 18-th January, Sunday. — The doctor and myself^ 
who 'fortunately were untouched by the frost, went 
(mt to hunt something to preserve existence ; near 
evening we wounded a buffalo with three balls, but 
had the mortification to see him run off notwith- 
standing. We concluded ihat it was useless to go 
home to add to the general gloom, and went among 
some rocks, where we encamped, and sat up all 
night ; from the intense cold it was impossible to 
aieep. Hungry and without cover. 

19th January, Monday. — We again took the field, 
and after crawling about one mile in the snow, got 
near enough to shoot eight times at a gang of buffa- 
loes, and could plainly perceive two or three of them 
to be badly wounded, but by accident they took the 
wind of us, and, to our great mortification, all were 
able to run off. By thistime 1 had become extreme- 

28 



326 BIOGRAPHY OF 

ly weak and faint, it beinj^j the fourth day since we 
had received sustenance, all of which we were march- 
ing hard, and the last niglit had scarcely closed our 
eyes to sleep. We were inclining our course to a 
point of woods ; determined to remain absent and die 
by ourselves, rather than return to our camp and be- 
hold the misery of our poor lads, when we discovered 
a gang of buffaloes coming along at some distance* 
With great exertions 1 made out to run and place my- 
self behind some cedars, and hy the greatest good luck 
the first shot stopped one, which we killed in three 
more shots, and by the dusk had cut each of us 
a heavy load, with which we determined immedi- 
diately to proceed to the camp, in order to re- 
lieve the anxiety of our men, and carry the poor 
fellows some food. We arrived there about twelve 
o'clock, and when I threw my load down, it was 
with difficulty I prevented myself from falling ; I was 
attacked with a giddiness of the head, which lasted 
for some minutes. On the countenances of the men 
was not a frown, nor a desponding eye, but all seem- 
ed happy to hail their officer and con)panions, yet 
not a mouthful had they eat for four days. On de- 
manding what were their thoughts, the sergeant re- 
plied, the most robust had determined to set out in 
search of us on the morrow, and not return unless 
they found us, or had killed something to preserve the 
lives of their starving companioits.'' 

in the course of this long, toilsome, and perilous 
march, Pike displayed a degree of personal heroisjn 
and hardihood, united with a prudence and sagacity 
which, had they been exerted on some wide theatre 
of action, would have done honour to the most re- 
nowned general. The reader may, perhaps smile at 
this remark, as one of the wild exaggerations of a bi- 
ographer aiixioug to dignify thecharacterof his hero, 



ZEBULON M. PIKE» 32t 

but the truth is, that great men owe much of their 
splendour to external circumstances, and if Hanni- 
bal had made his famous march across the Alps at 
the head of a company of foot, instead of an army, 
his name, if it had reached us, would have come down 
10 posterity with much less dignity than that of our 
hardy countryman. Tliere are passages in Pike's 
journal of his second expedition wliich, had they been 
found, with proper alterations of place and circum- 
stance, related by Plutarch or Livy of one of their 
heroes, would have been cited by every schoolboy 
as examples of military and heroic virtue. Take, 
for instance, the account of Pike's firm and prudent 
conduct in repressing the first symptoms of discon- 
tent in his little band, and his address upon this oc- 
casion to the mutineer, and they will be found to 
need but little of the usual embelishments of an elo= 
quent historian, to be made worthy of Haanibai 
himself. 

" 24th January, Saturday. — We sallied out in the 
morning, a*,d shortly after perceived our little band, 
marching tln'ough the snow, (about two and a half 
feet deep,) silent, and with downcast countenances. 
We joined them, a.-nl learnt ^'^at they, finding the 
snow to fall so thickly that it was impossible to pro- 
ceed, had encamped about one o'clock the preceding 
day. As i tound all the buiraloes had .yuii^d the 
plains, I d. termined to alte'npt the traverse of 
the mountains, in which we persevered 'Mitil the 
snow became so deep it was impossible to p!0ceed, 
when I again turned my face to the pJain, a!](- for the 
first time in the voyage found myself discouraged, 
and for the first time 1 heard a man express himself 
in J) seditions manner ; he exclaimed, '' ti.it it was 
mor-^ than human naldre co ild bear, to march three 
day- wilhout sustenance, thronghi sriows Uu ^e. feet 
deep and carry burdens only fit for horses,'"' «kc. 



J28 iilOGRATHV OF 

" As I knew very well the tidelity and attachment 
}[ the majority of the men, and even of this poor fel- 
fow, and that it was in my power to chastise him when 
] thought proper, I passed it by for the moment, de- 
termined to notice it at a more auspicious time. We 
dragged our weary and emaciated limbs along until 
about ] o'clock. The doctor and myself, who were 
in advance, discovered some buffaloes on the plain, 
when we left our loads and orders written on the snow, 
to proceed to the nearest woods to encamp. We 
went in pursuit of the buffaloes which were on the 
move. 

*' The doctor, who was then less reduced than my- 
self, ran and got behind a hill, and shot one down^ 
which stopped the remainder. We crawled up to 
the dead one, and shot from him as many as twelve 
or fourteen times among the gang, when they remov- 
ed out of sight. We then proceeded to cut up the 
one we had shot, and after procuring each of us a load 
of the meat, v/e marched for the camp, the smoke of 
which was in view. We arrived at the camp to the 
great joy of our brave lads, who immediately feasted 
sumptuously. After oar repast, I sent for the lad 
%vho had presumed to speak discontentedly in the 
course of the day, and addressed him to the follow- 
ing effect ; '* Brown, you this day presumed to make 
use of language which v/as seditious and mutinous ; I 
then passed it over, pitying your situation, and attri- 
buting it to yoiir distress, rather than to your own in* 
CiinatioD to sow discontent amongst the party. Had 
1 reserved provisions for ourselvesj whilst you were 
starving; had we been marching along light and at 
our ease, whilst you were weighed down with your 
burden, then you would have had some pretext for 
your observations ; but when we were equally hun- 
gry, weary, emaciated, and charged with burden, 



ZEBULON M. PIKE, 329 

which I believe my natural streiigth is less able to 
bear tiiaii any man's in the party ; when we were al« 
ways foremost in breaking the road, reconnoitering, 
and the fatigues of the chase, it was the height of in- 
gratitude in you, to let an expression escape which 
was indicative of discontent, your ready compliance 
and tirni perseverance I had reason to expect, as the 
leader of men, and my companions in miseries and 
dangers. But your duty as a soldier demanded your 
obedience to your officer, and a prohibition of such 
language, which for this time, 1 will pnrdon, but as- 
sure you, should it ever be repeated, I will revenge 
your ingratitude and punish your disobedience by in- 
stant death, I take this opportunJty, likewise, to as- 
sure you, soldiers, of my thanks for the obedience, 
perseverance, and ready contempt of every danger 
which 30U liave generally evinced ; I assure you, no- 
thing shall be v/anting on my part to procure you the 
rewards of our government, and gratitude of your 
countrymen.'' 

" They all appeared very much affected, and re° 
tired with assurances of perseverance in duty." 

Amid?t these distresses, after a three months' win- 
ter's march, they explored their way to what they 
supposed to be ihe Red River. Here they were met 
by a party of Spanish cavalry, by whom Pike was in- 
formed, to his great astonishment, that they were not 
on the Red River, but Oii the Rio del Noi te, and in 
the Spanish territory. All opposition to this force 
would have been idle, and he reluctantly submitted 
to accompany the Spaniards to Santa Fe, to appear 
before the governor. Though, to his great mortifi- 
cation, his expedition v/a> tbiis broken oiF, all hard- 
ship was now at an end. lie was treated on the road 
with great respect and hospitality, though watched 
and guarded with much jealousy 5 but he still insisted 

28* 



OoU BIOGRAPHY OP 

on wearing his sword, and that his men should retaiij 
their arnns. Indeed, it was his resohition, had he or 
any of his people been ill used, to surprise the guard, 
carry ofT their horses, and make the best of their way 
to Apaches. 

When he arrived at Santa Fe, his whole dress was 
a blanket-coat, blue trowsers, mockasons, and a scar- 
let cloth cap lined with a fox skin ; his men were in 
leather coats with leggings, &;c., and not a hat in the 
whole party. But he appeared before the governor 
with his usual spirit, and insisted on being treated 
with the respect due to an American officer. From 
Santa Fe he was sent to the capital of the province of 
Biscay, to be examined by the commandant general, 
where he was well received and entertained for some 
time, after which he was sent on his way home, under 
the escort of a strong party of horse. He arrived 
with his little band at Natchitoches on the 1st of Ju- 
]y, 1807. 

The most vexatious circumstance attending this 
unexpected sequel to his expedition, was the seizure 
of all bis papers, except his private journal, by the 
Spanish government. He had been fitted out with a 
complete set of mathematical and astronomical in» 
atruments, and had made frequent and accurate ob- 
servations. He had thus ascertained the geography 
icai situation of the most important points, with much 
precision, and had collected materials for an accu- 
rate map of a great part of the country he traversed. 
The seizure of these papers is a real loss to the cause 
©f science. It is, however, in perfect conformity to 
that narrow and purblind policy which the old Span- 
ish government uniformly manifested in the adminis- 
tration of its colonies. 

Pike, upon his return, received the thanks of the 
govenimentj a committee of the house of represent* 



ZEBULON M. PIKE. 331 

latives expressed their high sense of his " zeal, per- 
severance, and intelligence," and the administration, 
much to its honour, bestowed upon him a more soHd 
testimony of approbation, by a rapid promotion in the 
army. He was immediately appointed captain, short- 
ly after a major, and upon the further enlargement 
of the army in 1810, a colonel of infantry. 

During the interval of his miHtary duties, he pre° 
pared for the press a narrative of his two expeditions, 
accompanied by several valuable original maps and 
charts. This was published in 8vo. in 1810. The 
work is rather overloaded with unnecessary detail, 
and the language is careless and often inaccurate ; 
the last fault is, however, in a great measure to be 
attributed to several disadvantageous circumstances 
under which the work went to press, while the au- 
thor was at a distance, engaged in public service. 
Still it is sutficiently evident that the volume is not 
the composition of a scholar. But it bears the strong- 
est marks of an acute, active, busy mind, unaccus- 
tomed to scientific arrangement or speculation, but 
filled with a variety of knowledge, all of a useful, 
practical kind. Though entirely unacquainted with 
botany, zoology, and mineralogy, as sciences. Pike 
had a liberal curiosity, which taught him to look up- 
on every object with the eye of an observer, and to 
despise no sort of knowledge, though he might not 
himself perceive its immediate utility. Above all, 
the narrative has that unstudied air of truth which is 
so apt to evaporate away in the processes of the book- 
making traveller ; it retains all the clearness and 
freshness of first impressions, and we are never for a 
moment left in doubt whether or no the writer and 
the traveller are the same person. 

Immediately after the declaration of war. Pike 
was stationed with his regiment upon the northern 



332 BIOGRAPIir OF 

frontier, and upon the commencement of the cam- 
paign of 1813, was appointed a brigadier general. 

There was a tincture of enthusiasm in Pike's char- 
acter which commu.'iicated itself to his whole con- 
duct : in whatsoever pursuit he engaged, he entered 
upon it with his whole soul. But the profession of 
arms had been always his favourite study — his ' life's 
employment, and his leasure's charms.' Having ser- 
ved through every gradation of rank, almost from a 
private, up to a general, and very often employed 
in separate and iFidependent commands, he w^as in- 
timately acquainted with all the minutias of disci- 
pline. The veteran of a peace establishment is too 
apt, from the want of greater objects, to narrow his 
mind down to the little details of a military life, un- 
til, at length, every trifle swells up into ideal impor- 
tance, and the cut of a coat or the tying of a neck- 
cloth, seems big with the fate of nations. Pike was 
extremely attentive to all the particulars, even to 
ihe most minute points of discipline and dress, yet 
he gave them their due importance, and no more. 
He did not degrade the soldier into a mere living ma- 
chine, and while he kept up the strictest discipline, 
he laboured to make his men feel that this severity 
arose not from caprice or ill temper, but from princi- 
ple, and that it had for its sole object their own glory, 
their ease, their health, and safety. Careless of pop- 
ularity, and negligent of the arts hy which good will 
IS often conciliated, where there is no real esteem. 
by the unassuming simplicity and frankness of his 
manners, and the undeviating honour of his conduct, 
be bound to himself the hearts of all around him 
with the strong ties of respect and affection. 

Thus self formed, and thus situated, the eyes of 
the army were anxiously cast towards him as the 
chosen chainpion who was to redeem their reputa- 



^EBULON M. PIKE, 33S 

Hon from that disgrace, with wh-ich it had been stain- 
ed by a long series of disaters. Tlie day for wWch hie 
heart had long panted at length arrived — a bright day 
of glory for the hero, of gloom and sorrow to his 
country. He was selected for the command of the 
land forces in an expedition against York, the capital 
of Upper Canada, and on the 25th of April, sailed 
from Sackett's Harbour in the squadron command- 
ed by Commodore Chauncey. The day before the 
expedition sailed, he wrote a letter to his father, 
which contained these prophetic words : 

" I embark to-morrow in the fleet at Sackett's Har- 
liour, at the head of a column of 1,500 choice troops, 
on a secret expedition. If success attend my steps, 
honour and glory await my name ; if defeat, still 
shall it be said that we died like brave men, and 
conferred honour, even in death, on the American 
name. 

" Should I be the happy mortal destined to turn 
the scale of War, will you not rejoice, O my father ? 
May Heaven be propitious, and smile on the cause of 
my country ! But if we are destined to fall, may my 
fall be like Wolfe's — to sleep in the arms of victory." 

On the 27th of April, Gen. Pike arrived at York, 
with about seventeen hundred chosen men, and im- 
mediately prepared to land. The spot which was 
selected for landing, was the site of an old French 
furt called Torento, of which scarcely any vestages 
now remain. The plan of attack was formed by 
General Pike himself, and clearly and minutely de» 
tailed in his general orders, which were directed to 
be read at the head of every corps ; every field offi- 
cer was also directed to carry a copy of the^nn in or« 
dcr that he might at any moment refer to them, and 
give explanations to his subordinates. Every thing 
was arranged, and every probable exigency provided 
lor, with admirable method and precisiono 



:>34 BIOGRAPHY OF 

There is one paragraph of these orders which 
breatfces so much of his own spirit, that I cannot for- 
bear extracting it. It is deeply stamped with that 
\inity of character which was visible throughout all 
his actions, and which is, in truth, one of the strongest 
marks of a powerful and original mind. 

" No man will load until ordered, except the light 
troops in front, until withia a short distance of the en- 
emy, and then charge bayonets ; thus letting the en- 
emy see that we can meet them with their own weap- 
ons. Any man firing or qutting his post without or- 
ders must be put to instant death, as an example may 
be necessary. Platoon officers will pay tiie greatest 
attention to the coohiess and aim of their men in the 
fire ; their regularity and dressing in the charge. 
The field officer will watch over the conduct of the 
whole. Courage and bravery in the field, do not more 
distinguish the soldier than humanity after victory ; 
and whatever examples the savage allies of our ene- 
mies may have given us, the general confidentjj hopes 
that the blood of an unresisting or yielding enemy 
will never stain the weapons of the soldiers of his col- 
umn. Property must be held sacred ; and any sol- 
dier who shall so far neglect the honour of his profes- 
sion as to be guilty ofplundering the inhabitants shall, 
if convicted, be punished with death. But the com- 
manding general assures the troops, that should they 
capture a large quantity of pu;)lic stores, he will use 
his host e.ideavours to procure them a reward from his 
government." 

As soon as the debarkation commenced, a body of 
British grenadiers was paraded on the shore, and the 
Gleni;ary Fencibles, which had been disciplined with 
great care, and has repeatedly proved itself fudy 
equal to any regular force, appeared at another point. 
Large bodies of Indians were also seen in ditlerent 



ZEBULON M* PIKE/. 335 

directions, while others filled the woods which skirt- 
ed the shore. General Sheaffe commanded in per- 

£011. 

Forsythe's riflemen were first to land, which they 
effected under a heavy fire of musketry and ri- 
fles from the Indians and British. As soon as the 
fire from the shore commenced, Major Forsythe had 
ordered his men to rest a few moments upon their 
oars, and return the fire. At this moment Pike was 
standing upon the deck of his ship. He saw the 
pause of his first division, and, impatient at the de- 
lay, exclaimed, " I can stay here no longer, come, 
jump into the boat ;" and, springing into it, followed 
by his staff, was immediately rowed into the thickest 
of the fire. 

The infantry had followed the riflemen, and form- 
ed in platoons as soon as they reached the shore. 
General Pike took the command of the first platoon 
which he reached, and ordered the whole to prepare 
for a charge. They mounted the bank, and the en- 
emy, after a short conflict, broke at once, and fled in 
dif^order towards the works. At that moment the 
sound of Forsythe's bugle was heard, announcing his 
success at another point. Its effect upon the In- 
dians was almost electrical ; they gave a horrible 
yell, and fled in every direction. 

The whole force, being now landed and collect- 
ed, was again formed and led on by General Pike 
in person, to attack the enemy's works. They ad- 
vanced through the woods, and after carrying one 
battery by assault, in the most gallant manner, mov- 
ed on in columns towards the main work. The fire 
of the enemy was soon silenced by our artillery, and 
a flag of surrender was expected, when a terrible ex- 
plosion suddenly took place from the British maga- 
zine, which had been previously prepared for thi« 



336 BIOGRAPHV Oi 

purpose. Pike, after aiding in removing a wounded 
man with his own hands, had sat down on the stump 
of a tree with a British sergeant, who had been taken, 
and was employed with Captain Nicholson and one 
of his aids, in examining the prisoner. The explo- 
iion was tremendous ; an immense quantity of large 
stones were thrown in every direction with incredi- 
ble force, and scattered destruction and confusion 
around among our troops. The general, his aid, 
captain Nicholson, and the prisoner fell together, aJl 
except the aid, mortally wounded. General Pike 
had been struck on the breast by a heavy stone, 
Shortly after he received the blow, he said to his 
wounded aid, *' I am mortally wounded — write to my 
friend D , and tell him what you know of the bat- 
tle, and to comfort my ." In the same broken 

manner, he afterwards added several other requests 
relating to his private affairs. 

The troops were instantly formed again ; as a body 
of them passed by their wounded general, he said, 
*^ Push on, brave fellows, and avenge your general." 
While the surgeons were carrying him out of the 
field, a tumultuous huzza was heard from our troops j 
Pike turned his head with an anxious look cf enquiry ; 
he was told by a sergeant, " The British union jack 
is coming down, general — the stars are going up.'' 
He heaved a heavy sigh, and smiled. He was then 
carried on board the commodore's ship, where he 
lingered for a few hours. Just before he breathed 
his last the British standard was brought to him ; he 
made a sign to have it placed under his head, and ex- 
pired without a groan. 

The death of General Pike, at such a period, was 
a great pubhc misfortune ; his countrymen did not 
know half the extent of their loss. Pike was plain 
a^d uuimposing in his appearance and manners, and 



SEEULON M. VIKE. 337 

iO' the world seemed iittle more than an active and 
intelligent soldier ; but it is not easy to say what 
height of military excellence may not have been 
reached by a mind like his, stimulated by high-soar- 
ing ambition, braced up by principle to habitual dig- 
nity of thought, and constantly expanding its views, 
enlarging its resources, and unfolding its powers, by 
£ts own native and unwearied energy. 

Gallant spirit ! It was thine to wash out with thy 
life blood the foul remembrance of our country's 
shame — of those disgraces which had blasted her 
honour, and tarnished the ancient glories of her arms. 
It was thine, in life, in death, to give to your com- 
panions in arms a great example of chivalrous hon- 
our and heroic courage ; — it was thine to lead them 
to the threshold of the temple of fame, and bid thenn 
enter on a long career of glory. 

Gallant spirit! Thy country will not forget thee ; 
Chou shalt have a nobie memory. When a greatfu! 
nation confers upon the heroes of Niagara and Erie 
the laurels they have sa nobly earned, she will bid 
(hem remember that those laurels were first gather^ 
ed on the shores of York, and were watered by the 
blood of a hero ; and hereafter, when our children 
and children's children shall read the story of patri- 
ots and heroes who have gallantly fallen in the arms 
of victory ; when their eyes glisten, and their young 
hearts throb wildly at the kindling theme, they will 
close the volume which tells of Epaminondas, of 
Sydney, or of Wolfe, and proudly exclaim, " And wc 
too, had our Montgomery and our Pike." 

[Analectic Magazmcc 



Biography of 
CAPTAIN JAMES LAWRENCEe 



To speak feelingly, yet temperately, of the mer- 
its of those who have bravely fought and gloriously 
fallen in the service of their country, is one of the 
most difficult tasks of the biographer. Filled with 
admiration of their valour, and sorrow for their 
fate, we fell the impotency of our gratitude, in be- 
ing able to reward such great sacrifices with noth- 
ing but empty applause. We are apt, therefore, to 
)e hurried into a degree of eulogium, which, howev- 
r sincere and acknowledged at the time, may be 
Guarded as extravagaiit by the dispassionate eye of 
dlcr years. 

^Ve feel more particularly this difficulty, in under- 
taking to give the memoirs of one, whose excellent 
qualities and gallant deeds are still vivid in our re- 
collection, and whose untimely end has excited, in 
an extraordinary degree, the sympathies of his coun- 
trymen. Indeed, the popular career of this youth- 
ful hero has been so transient, yet dazzling, as al- 
most to prevent sober investigation. Scarce had we 
ceased to rejoice in his victory, before we were cal- 
led on to deplore his loss. He passed before the 
pui)lic eye like a star, just beamifig on it for a mo- 
ment, and falling in the midst of his brightness. 

Uaptain James Lawrence was born on the 1st of 
Or,t. 1 78 1 , at Burlington, in the state of New- Jersey. 
He was the youngest son of John Lawrence, Esq. aQ 
eminent counsellor at law of that place. Within a 



JAMES LAWRENCE* 5 39 

few weeks after his birth his mother died, and the 
charge of him devolved on his sisters, to whom he 
ever showed the warmest gratitude for the tender 
care they took of his infant years. He early evin- 
ced that excellence of heart by which he was char- 
acterised through life; he was a dutiful and affec- 
tionate child, mild in his disposition, and of the most 
gentle and engaging manners. He wis scarce twelve 
years of a^e, when he expressed a decided partiahty 
for a seafaring life ; but his father disapproving of itj 
and wishing him to prepare for the profession of the 
law, his strong sense of duty induced him to acqui- 
esce^ He went through the common branches of 
education at a grammar school at Burlington, with 
much credit to himself, and satisfaction to his tutors. 
The pecuniary misfortunes of his father preven- 
ted his receiving a finished education, and between 
the age of thirteen and fourteen he commenced the 
study of the law with his brother, the late John Law- 
rence, Esq. who then resided at Woodbury. He re- 
mained for two years in this situation, vainly striv= 
ing to accommodate himself to pursuits wholly repug- 
nant to his taste and inclinations. 7'he dry studies 
of statutes and reporters, the technical rubbish and 
dull routine of a lawyer's ofhce, were little calcula- 
ted to please an imagination teeming with the adven- 
tures, the wonders, and variety of the seas. At 
length, his father being dead, and his strong predi- 
lection for the roviiig life of a sailor being increased 
by every attempt to curb it, his brothv.r yielded to 
his solicitions, and placed him under the care of Mr. 
Griscomb, at Burlington, to acquire the principles of 
navigation and naval tacticks. He remained with 
him for tliree months, when, his intention of apply- 
ing for a situation in the navy being generally known, 
several of the mo5t distintraished gentlemen of the 



it BIOGRAPHY OF 

-fate interested themselves in his behalf, and wrote 
to the navy department. The succeeding mail 
brought him a midshipman's warrant ; and betweca 
the age of sixteen and seventeen he entered theser- 
vice of his country. 

His first cruise \^'as to the West Indies, in the ship 
Ganges, commanded by Captain Thomas Tingey, 
In tins and several subsequent cruises, no opportuni--' 
iy occurred to call forth particular services ; but the 
attention and intelligence'whichhe uniformly display- 
id in the discharge of his duties, the correctness of 
iiis deportment, and the suavity of his manners, gain- 
ed him the approbation of his commanders, and ren- 
dered hiin a favourite v/ith his associates and inferi- 
ors, 

"Whch lbs war was declared against Tripoli, he 
was promoted to a lieutenancy, and appointed to 
ilhf: tomirand of the schooner Enterprize. While in 
this command, be volunteered his services in the 
hazcirdous exploit of destroying the frigate Philadel- 
phia, and accompanied Decatur as his first lieuten- 
mt. The brilliant success of tha^t enterprise is well 
kr ovvD : and for (he gallantry and skill displayed on 
ihe occasion, Decatur was made post captain, while 
Lawronce, in common with the other officers and 
crew, were voted by congress two months' extra pay 
—a sordid and paltry reward, which he immediately 
declined. 

The harbour of Tripoli apppcars to have been the 
school of our naval heroes. In tracing the histories 
of tho«e whohave VcLicly distinguished themselves, we 
are always led to the coast of Barbary as the field 
of their iirst experience and young achievement. — 
The concentration of our little navy at this pointy 
soon after its formation, has had a happy effect upon 
lis ch^.rncter and fortunes. The officers were most 



JAMES LAWRENCE. 341 

of them young in years, and yoiinj^ in arms, full of 
life and spirits, and enthusiasm. Such is the time to 
form generous impressions and strong attachments. 
It was there they grew together in habits of mutual 
confidence and friendship ; and to the noble emula- 
tion of so many young minds newly entering upon 
an adventurous profession, may be attributed that 
enterprising spirit and defiance of danger that has ev- 
er since distinguished our navy. 

After continuing in the Mediterranean about three 
years and a half, Lawrence returned to the United 
States with commodore Preble, and was again sent 
out on that station, as commander of gun boat No. 6, 
in which he remained for sixteen months. Since that 
time he has acted as first lieutenant of the Constitu- 
tion, and as commander of the Vixen, Wasp, Argus 
and Hornet. In 1808, he was njarried to a daugh- 
ter of Mr. Montaudevert, a respectaide merchant of 
New-York, to whom he made one of the kindest and 
most affectionate of husbands. 

At the commencement of the recent war he sail- 
ed in the Hornet sloop of war, as part of the squad- 
ron that cruised under commodore Rodgers. While 
absent on this cruise, lieutenant Morris was promo- 
ted to the rank of post captain, for his bravery and 
skill as first lieutenant of the Constitution in her ac- 
tion with the Guerriere. This appointment, as it 
raised him two grades, and placed him over the heads 
of older officers, gave great offence to many of the 
navy, who could not brook that the regular rules of 
the service should be infringed, it was thought par- 
ticularly unjust, as giving Inm rank above Lawrence, 
who had equally distinguished himself as first lieu- 
tenant of Decatur, in the destruction of the frigate 
Philadelphia, and who, at present, was but master 
and commander. 



29- 



^^'- EIOGRAFi]! OF 

On retiirnu.g from his cruise, captain Lavvieiice, 
after consulting wiih commodores Rodgers and Bain- 
bridge, and with other experienced gentlemen of the 
n:\.\'y, addressed a memorial to the senate, and a let- 
ter to the secretary of tlie navy, wherein, after the 
fdilest acknowledgments of the great merits and ser- 
vices of captain Morris, he remonstrated in the most 
temperate and respectfiil, but firm and manly lan- 
guage, on the impropriety of his promotion, as being 
?'cr;irarv to the rules of naval precedence, and partic- 
iilar'y hard as respected himself. At the same time, 
he frankly mentioned that he should be compeJled, 
iiowever reluctajit, to leave the service, if thus im- 
properly outranked, 

'The reply of the secretary was singularly brief; 
bartly observJn-;. Ihrit if he ihoaght proper to leave 
the service without a cause, there would still remain 
heroes ai)d patriots to support the honour of the flag. 
There was a laconic severity in this reply calcula- 
ted to cut a man of feeling to the heart, and which 
ought not to have been provoked by the fair and 
candid remonstrance of Lawrence. 

WliCre men are fighting for honour rather than 
profit, the utmost dehcacy should be observed to- 
wards their high-toced feelings. Those complaints 
which spring from Y*'ounded pride, and the jealousy 
of station, should never be regarded lightly. The 
^est soldiers are ever most tenacious of their rank ; 
for it cannot be expected that he who hazards every 
thing for distinction, will be careless of it after it is 
attained. Fortunately, Lawrence had again depart- 
ed on a cruise before this letter arrived, which oth- 
erwise might have driven from the service one of our 
most meritorious officers. 

This second cruise was in company with com- 
.modore Bainbridge, who cojnmanded the Constitiv 



JAMEo LAWRLNCi., 343 

lion. While cruising off the Brazils, they fell io 
with the Bonne Citoyenne, a British ship of war, 
having on board a large amount of specie, and chas- 
ed her into St. Salvador. Notwithstanding that she 
was a larger vessel, and of a greater force in guns 
and men than the Hornet, yet cnptain Lawrence 
sent a challenge to her commander, captain Green, 
pledging his honour that neither the Constitution nor 
any other American vessel should interfere. Com- 
modore Bainbridge made a similar pledge on his 
own part ; but the British commander declined the 
combat, alleging that though perfectly satisfied that 
the event of such a rencounter would be favourable 
iio his ship, "yet he was equally convinced that commo- 
dore Bainbridge could not swerve so much from the 
paramount duty he owed his country, as to become 
an inactive spectator, and see « ship belonging to 
the very squadron under his orders, fall into the hande 
of the enemy." 

I'o make him easy on this point, commodore Bain» 
bridge left the Hornet four days together off the har- 
bour in which the Bonne Citoyenne laid, and from 
which she could discover that he was not within for- 
ty miles of it. He afterwards went into the harbour 
and remained there three days, where he might at 
any time have been detained twenty-four hours, at 
the request of captain Green, if disposed to combat 
the Hornet. At length the Constitution went offal- 
together, leaving Lawrence to blockade the Bonne 
Citoyenne, which he did for nearly a month, captain 
Green not thinking proper to risk an encounter. It 
is posible, that having an important public trust ia 
charge, and sailing under particular orders, he did 
not think himself authorised to depart from the pur- 
pose of his voyage, and risk his vessel in a contest for 
mere individual reputation. But if such were his 



344 BIOGRAPHY OF 

reasons, he should have stated them when he refused 
to accept the challenge. 

On the 24th of January, captain Lawrence was 
obliged to shift his cruising ground, by the arrival of 
the Montague 74, which had sailed from Rio Janei- 
ro, for the express purpose of relieving the iionne 
Citoyenne and a British packet of 12 guns, which 
I'kewise lay at St. Salvador. At length, on the 
morning of the 24th of February, when cruising off 
Demerara, the Hornet fell in with the British brig 
Peacock, a vessel of about equal force. The con- 
test commenced within half pistol shot, and so tre- 
mendous was the fire of the Americans, that in less 
than fifteen minutes the enemy surrendered, and 
made signal of distress, being in a sinking condition. 
Her mainmast shortly went by the board, and she 
was left such an absolute wreck, that, notwithstand- 
ing every exertion was made to keep her afloat un- 
til the prisoners could be removed, she sunk with 
thirteen of her crew, and three brave American 
tars, who thus nobly perished in relieving a con- 
quered foe. The slaughter on board of the Pea- 
cock was very severe ; among the slain was found 
ihe body of her commander, captain Peake. He was 
twice wounded in the course of the action ; the last 
wound proved fatal. His body was wrapped in the 
Hag of his vessel, and laid in the cabin to sink with 
her, a shroud and sepulchre worthy so brave a sailor. 

During the battle, the British brig L'Espcigle, 
mounting 15 two and thirty pound carronades and 
two long nines, lay at anchor about six miles in shore. 
Being apprehensive that she would beat out to the 
assistance of her consort, the utmost exertions were 
made to put the Hornet in a situation for action, and 
in about three hours she was in complete preparation, 
but the enemy did not think proper to make an attack. 



JAMES LAWRENCE. 345 

The conduct of Lawrence towards his prisoners wag 
such as, we are proud to say, has uniformly charac- 
terised the officers of our navy. They have ever 
displayed the liberality and scrupulous delicacy of 
generous minds towards those whom the fortune of 
war has thrown in their power ; and thus have woa 
by their magnanimity, those whom they had conquer- 
ed by their valour. The officers of the Peacock 
were so affected by the treatment they received from 
captain Lawrence, that on their arrival at New- York^ 
they made a greatful acknowledgment in the public 
papers. To use their own expressive phrase '•' they 
ceased to consider themselves prisoners." Nor 
must we omit to mention a circumstance highly to the 
honour of the brave tars of the Hornet. Finding 
that the crew of the Peacock had lost all their cloth- 
jiig, by the sudden sinking of the vessel, they made & 
subscription, and from their own wardrobes supphed 
each man with two shirts, and a blue jacket and 
browsers. Such may rough sailors be made, when 
they have before them the example of high-minded 
men. They are beings of but little reflection, open 
»o the impulse and excitement of the moment ; and 
it depends in a great measure upon their officers, 
whether, under a Lawrence, they shall ennoble them- 
selves by generous actions, or, under a Cockburn, be 
hurried away into scenes of unpremeditated atro- 
city. 

On returning to this country, captain Lawrence 
was received with great distinction and applause, 
and various public bodies conferred on him peculiar 
tokens of approbation. While absent, the rank of 
post captain had been conferred on him, and shortly 
after his return he received a letter from the secre- 
tary of the navy, offering him the command of the 
frigate Constitution, provided neither captains Por» 



346 BIOGRAPHY OF 

ter or Evens applied for it, they being older officers. 
Captain Lawrence respectfully declined this condi- 
tional appointment, for satis^factory reasons which he 
stated to the secretary. He then received an uncon- 
ditional appointnnentto that frigate, and directions to 
superintend the navy-yard at New-York, in the ab- 
sence of captain Ludlow. The next day, to his great 
surprise and chagrin, he received counter orders, 
with instructions to take command of the frigate 
Chesapeake, then lying at Boston, nearly ready for 
sea. This appointment was particularly disagreea- 
ble to him. He was prejudiced agtinst the Chesa- 
peake, both from her being considered the worst ship 
in our navy, and from having been in a manner dis- 
graced in the affair with the Leopard. This last cir- 
cumstance had acquired her the character of an un- 
lucky ship — the worst of stigmas among saiiors, who 
are devout believers in good and bad luck ; and so 
detrimental was it to this vessel, that it has been found 
difficult to recruit crews for her. 

The extreme repugnance that captain Lawrence 
felt to this appointment, induced him to write to the 
secretary of the navy, requesting to be continued in 
the command of the Hornet. Besides, it was his 
wish to remain some short time in port, and enjoy a 
little repose in the bosom of his family : particularly 
as his wife was in that delicate situation, that most 
calls forth the tenderness and solicitude of an affec- 
tionate husband. But though he wrote four letters 
successively to the secretary, he never received an 
ansv/or, and was obliged reluctantly to acquiesce. 

While laying in Boston roads, nearly ready for sea, 
the British frigate Shannon appeared off the harbour, 
and made signals expressive of a challenge. The 
brave Lawrence immediately determined on accept- 
ing it, thongh conscious at llje tim<3 of the ^reat dis- 



JAMES LAWRENCE, 34? 

parity between the two ships. The Shannon was a 
prime vessel, equipped in an extraordinary manner, 
for the express purpose of combatting advantageous- 
ly, one of our largest frigates. She had an unusual- 
ly numerous crew of picked men, thoroughly disci- 
plined and well officered. She was commanded by 
captain Broke, one of the bravest and ablest officers 
in the service, who fought merely for reputation. 

On the other hand, the Chesapeake was an indif- 
ferent ship ; with a crew, a great part of whom were 
newly recruited, and not brought into a proper disci- 
pline. They were strangers to their commander, 
who had not had time to produce that perfect subor- 
dination, yet strong personal attachment, which he 
had the the talent of creating wherever he command^ 
ed. His first lieutenant was sick on shore ; the oth- 
er officers, though meritorious, were young men ] 
two of them mere acting lieutenants ; most of them 
recently appointed to the ship, and unacquainted 
with the men. Those who are in the least informed 
in nautical aflfliirs, must perceive the greatness of 
these disadvantages. 

The most earnest endeavours were used, by com- 
modore Bainbridge and other gentlemen of nice 
honour and sound experience, to dissuade captain 
Lawrence from what was considered a rash and un- 
necessary exposure. He felt and acknowledged the 
force of their reasons, but persisted in his determina- 
tion. He was peculiarly situated : he had formerly 
challenged the Bonne Gitoycnne, and should he de- 
cline a similar challenge, it might subject him to 
sneers and misrepresentations. Among the other un- 
fortunate circumstaiices that attended this ill-starred 
battle, was the delay of a written challenge from cap- 
tain Broke, which did not arrive until after captain 



348 BIOGRAPHY or 

Lawrence had sailed. It is stated to have been couch 
ed in the most frank and courteous language ; mi- 
nutely detailing the force of his ship, and offering, if 
the Chesapeake should not be completely prepared, 
to cruise off and on until such time as she made a 
specified signal of being ready for the conflict. It is 
to be deeply regretted that captain Lawrence did 
not receive this gallant challenge, as it would have 
given him time to put his ship in proper order, and 
spared him the necessity of hurrying out in his un- 
prepared condition, to so formal and momentous an 
encounter. 

After getting the ship under way, he called the 
crew together, and having ordered the white flag to 
be hoisted, bearing the motto, " Free trade and sail- 
ors' rights," he, according to custom, made them a 
short harangue. While he was speaking several 
murmurs were heard, and strong symptoms of dissat- 
isfaction appeared in the manners and countenances 
of the crew. After he had finished, a scoundrel Por- 
tuguese, who was boatswain's mate, and acted as 
spokesman to the murmurers, replied to captain Law- 
rence in an insolent manner, complaining, among 
other things, that they had not been paid their piize- 
money, which had been due for some time past. 

The critical nature of the moment, and his igno- 
rance of the dispositions and characters of his crew, 
would not allow captain Lawrence to notice such 
dastardly and mutinous conduct in the manner it de- 
served. He dared Jiot thwart the humours of men, 
over whose affections he had not had time to acquire 
any influence, and therefore ordered the purser to 
take them below and give them checks for their 
prize money, which was accordingly done. 

We dwell on these particulars to show the dis- 
astrous and disheartening circumstances under which 



JAMES LAWRENCE. 349 

captain Lawrence went forth to this battle — circum- 
Btances which shook even his calm and manlj breast, 
and filled him with a despondency unusual to his na- 
ture. Justice to the memory of this invaluable offi- 
cer, requires that the disadvantages under which he 
fought should be made public. 

It was on the morning of the first of June, that the 
Chesapeake put to sea. The Shannon, on seeing her 
come out, bore away, and the other followed. At 4 
P. M. the Chesapeake hauled up and fired a gun ; the 
Shannon then hove to. The vessels manoevered in 
awful silence, until within pistol shot, when the Shan- 
non opened her fire, and both vessels, almost at the 
same moment poured forth tremendous broadsides. 
The execution in both ships was terrible, but the fire 
of the Shannon was peculiarly fatal^ not only making 
great slaughter among the men, but cutting down 
some of the most valuable officers. The very first 
shot killed Mr. White, sailing master of the Chesa- 
peake, an excellent officer, whose loss at such a mo- 
ment was disastrous in the extreme. The fourth 
lieutenant, Mr. Ballard, received also a mortal wound 
in this broadside, and at the same moment captain 
Lawrence was shot through the leg with a musket 
ball; he however supported himself on the compan- 
ion way, and continued to give his orders with his 
visual coolness. About three broadsides were ex- 
changed, which, from the closeness of the ships, were 
dreadfully destructive. The Chesapeake had three 
men shot from her helm successively, each taking it 
as the other fell ; this of course produced irregulari- 
ty in the steering, and the consequence was, that her 
anchor caught in one of the Shannon's after ports. 
She was thus in a position where her guns could not 
be brought to bear upon the enemy, while the latter 
was enabled to fire raking shots from her foremost 
30 



350 BIOORAPHV OF 

guns, wbichswept the upper decks of the Chesapeake, 
killing or wounding the greater portion of the men, 
A hand grenade was thrown on the quarter deck, 
which set fire to sonne musket cartridges, but did no 
other damage. 

In this state of carnage and exposure, about twenty 
of the Shannon's men, seeing a favourable opportuni- 
ty for boarding, without waiting for orders, jumped 
on the deck of the Chesapeake. Captain Lawrence 
had scarce time to call his boarders, when he receiv- 
ed a second and mortal wound from a musket ball, 
which lodged in his intestines. Lieutenant Cox, who 
commanded the second division, rushed up at the call 
for the boarders, but came just in time to receive his 
falling commander. He was in the act of carrying 
him below, when captain Broke, accompanied by 
his first lieutenant, and followed by his regular board- 
ers, sprang on board the Chesapeake. The brave 
Lawrence saw the overwhelming danger; his last 
words, as he was borne bleeding from tbe deck, were, 
" don't surrender the ship !" 

Samuel Livermore, Esq. of Boston, who, from per- 
sonal attachment to captain Lawrence, had accom- 
panied him in this cruise as chaplain, attempted to 
revenge his fall. He shot at captain Broke, but miss- 
ed him : the latter made a cut at his head, which Liv= 
ermore warded off, but in so doing, received a severe 
wound in the arm. The only officer that now remain- 
ed on the upper deck was lieutenant Ludlow, who 
was so entirely weakened and disabled by repeated 
wounds received early in the action, as to be incapa- 
ble of personal resistance. The comparatively small 
number of men, therefore, that survived on the up- 
per decks, having no ofiicer to head them, the British 
succeeded in securing complete possession, before 
those from below could get up. Lieutenant Budd^ 



JAMES LAWRENCE. 35 1 

n-bo had commanded the first division below, being 
informed of the danger, hastened up with some men, 
but was overpowered by superior numbers, and cut 
down immediately. Great embarrassment took 
place, in consequence of the officers being unacquaint- 
ed with the crew. In one instance in particular^ 
lieutenant Cox, on mounting the deck, joined a party 
of the enemy through mistake, and was made sensible 
of his error, by their cutting at him witii tlieir sabres. 

While this scene of havoc and confusion was going 
on above, captain Lawrence, who was lying in the 
wardroom in excruciating pain, hearing the firing 
cease, forgot the anguish of his wounds i having no 
officer near him, he ordered the surgeon to hasten on 
deck and tell the officers to fight on to the last, and 
never to strike the colours ; adding, '* they shall 
wave while I live." The fate of the battle, howev- 
er, was decided. Finding all further resistance vain, 
and a mere waste of life, lieutenant Ludlow gave up 
the ship; after which, he received a sabre wound in 
the head from one of the Shannon's crew, which 
fractured his skull, and ultimately proved mortal. 
He was one of the most promising officers of his age 
in the service, highly esteemed for his professioiial 
talents, and beloved for the generous qualities that 
adorned his private character. 

Thus terminated one of the most remarkal^Je com- 
bats on naval record. From the peculiar accidents 
that attended it, the battle was short, desperate and 
bloody. So long as the cannonading continued, the 
Chesapeake is said to have ciearly had the advantage ', 
and had the ships not run luul, itis probable she would 
have captured the Shannon. 'J'hough considerably 
damaged in her upper works, arid pierced with some 
shot holes in her hull, yet she had sustained no injury 
to atiect her safety ; whereas the Shannon had received 



jo^ biography of 

several shots between wind and water, and, conse^ 
fluently, could not have sustained the action long. 
The havoc on both sides was dreadful ; but to the 
singular circumstance of having every officer on the 
upper deck either killed or wounded early in the ac- 
tion, may chieily be attributed the loss of the Chesa- 
peake. 

There have been various vague complaints circu- 
lated of the excesses of the victors, and of their 
treatment to our crew after the surrender. These 
have been, as usual, dwelt on and magnified, and 
made subjects of national aspersion. Nothing can 
be more illiberal than this. Where the scene of con- 
jBict is tumultuous and sanguinary, and the struggle 
desperate, as in the boarding of a ship, excesses will 
lake place among the men, which it is impossible to 
prevent. They are the inevitable incidents of war, 
and should never be held up to provoke national ab- 
horrence or retaliation. Indeed, they are so hable 
to be misrepresented by partial and distorted ac- 
counts, tliat very little faith is ever to be placed in 
them. Such, for instance, is the report, that the 
enemy discharged several muskets into the cockpit 
after the ship had been given up. This, in fact, was 
provoked by the wanton act of a boy below, who shot 
down the sentinel stationed at the gangway, and thus 
produced a momentary exasperation, and an alarm 
that our men v/ere rising. It should be recollected, 
likewise, that our flag was not struck, but v/as hauled 
down by the enemy 5 consequently, the surrender of 
the ship was notimmediately known tiiroughout, &:the 
struggle continued in various places, before the proper 
orders could be communicated. It is wearisome and 
disgusting to observe the war of slander kept up by the 
little minds jof both countries, wherein every paltry 
jBisdeed of a paltry individual, is insidiously trump- 



JAMES LAWRENCE. 353 

eced forth as a stigma on the respective nations. By 
these means are engendered lasting roots of bitter- 
ness, that c;ivc an implacable spirit to the actual hos- 
tility of the times, and will remain after the present 
strife shall have passed away. As the nations must 
inevitably, and at no very distant period, come once 
more together in the relations of amity and commerce^ 
it is to be wished that as little private animosity may 
be encouraged as possible; so that we may contend 
for rights and interests, we may never cease to esteen:^ 
and respect each other. 

The two ships presented dismal spectacles after 
the battle. Crowded with the wounded and the dy- 
uiil^ tlicy rescml)!ed floating hospitals sending forth 
groans at every roll. The brave Broke lay delirious 
from a wound in the head, which he is said to have 
received v/hile endeavouring to prevent the slaugh- 
ter of some of our men who had surrendered. In his 
rational intervals, he always spoke in the highest 
terms of the courage and skill of Larwence, and of 
the '^ gallant and masterly style" in which he brought 
the Chesapeake into action. 

The wounds of captain Lawrence rendered it im- 
possible to remove him after the battle, and his cab- 
in being very much shattered, he remained in the 
wardroom. Here he lay, attencied by his own sur= 
geon, and surrounded by his brave and sufteriiig of- 
ficers. He made no comment on the battle, nor in- 
deed was heard to utter a word, except to make 
such simple requests as his necessities required. la 
this way he lingered througli four days, in extreme 
bodily pai'i, and the silent melancholy of a proud and 
noble heart, and then expired. His body was wrap-' 
ped in the colours of his ship and laid on the quarter 
deck of the Chesapeake, to be conveyed to HaHfas 
for interment. 

30*' 



■-}0'i BiaGRAPHV Of 

At (lie time of his death he was but thirty-two 
years of age, nearly sixteen of which harl been hon= 
ourably expended in the service of his country. He 
was a disciplir.arian of the highest order, producing 
perfect obedience and snbordination without severi- 
ty. His men became zealously devoted to him, and 
ready to do through affection what severity would 
never have compelled. He was scrupulously cor- 
rect in his piinciples, delicate in his sense of honour; 
and to his extreme jealousy of reputation he fell a 
victim, in daiing an ill-matched encounter, which 
prudence would have justified him in declining. In 
battle, where his lofty and commanding person made 
him conspicuous, the calm collected courage, and el- 
vated tranquility which he maintained in the midst 
of of peril, imparted a confidence to every bosom. In 
the hour of victory he was moderate and unassum- 
ing ; towards the vanquished he was gentle, gener° 
ous and humane. But it is on the amiable qualities 
that adorned the private character, that his friends 
will hang with the fondest remembrance — that bland 
philanthropy that emanated from every look, that 
breathed forth in every accent, that gave a grace to 
every action. His was a general benevolence, that 
like a lambent flame, shed its cheering rays through- 
out the sphere of his influence, warming and gladden- 
ing every heart, and lighting up every countenance 
into smiles. But there is one little circle on whose 
sacred sorrows even the eye of sympathy dares not 
intrude. His brother being dead, he was the last 
mail branch of a family, who looked up to him as its 
ornament and pride. His fraternal tenderness was 
the prop and consolation of two widowed sisters, and 
in him their helpless offspring found a father. He 
left also a wife and two young children, to whom he 
was fervently attached. The critical situation of 



JAMES LAWRENCE* 365 

the former, was one of those cares which preyed up=. 
oil his mind at the time he went forth to battle The 
utmost precautions were taken by his relatives tokeep 
from her the knowledge of her husband's fate; their 
anxiety was soon relieved by the birth of a son, who, 
we trust, will inherit the virtues, and emulate the ac- 
tions of his father. The unfortunate mother has at 
length recovered from a long and dangerous contine- 
ment; but has now learned the heart-rending intel- 
ligence, that the infant in her arms is fatherless. 

There is a touching pathos about the death of this 
estimable officer, that endears him more to us than 
if he had been successful. The prosperous con- 
queror is an object of admiration, but in some meas- 
ure of envy : whatever gratitude we feel for his ser- 
vices, we are apt to think them repaid by the plau- 
dits he enjoys. But he who falls a martyr to his 
country's cause, excites the fulness of public sympa- 
thy ; envy cannot repine at laurels so dearly purcha- 
sed, and gratitude feels that he is beyond the reach 
of its rewards. The last sad scene of his life hallows 
his memory ; it remains sacred by misfortune, and 
honoured, not by the acclamations, but the tears of 
his countrymen. The idea of Lawrence, cut down in 
the prime of his days, stretched upon his deck, wrap- 
ped in the flag of his country — that flag which he had 
contributed to ennoble, and had died iq defend — is a 
picture that will remain treasured up in the dearest 
recollections of every American. His will form one 
of those talismanick names which every nation pre- 
serves as watchwords for patriotism and valour. 

Deeply, therefore, as every bosom must lament 
the fall of so gallant and amiable an officer, there 
are some reflections consoling to the pride of friend- 
ship, and which sooth, though they cannot prevent, 
the bitter tear of alfection. He fell before his flag 



356 BIOGRAPHV OF 

was sfrnck. His fall was the cause, not the conse- 
quence of defeat. He fell covered with glory, in the 
flower of his days, in (he perfection of mental and 
personal endowment, and the freshness of reputation; 
thus leaving in every mind the full and perfect image 
of a hero. However we may deplore the stroke of 
death, his visits are occasionally well timed for his 
victim : he sets a seal upon the fame of the ii!us(ri- 
ous, fixing it beyond the reach of accident or change. 
And where is the son of honour, panting for distinc- 
tion, who would not rather, like Lawrence, be snatch- 
ed away iii the brightness of youth ajid glory, than 
dwindle down to what is termed a good old age, wear 
his reputation to the shreds, and leave behind him 
nothing but the remembrance of decrepitude and im- 
becility. 

With feelings that swell our hearts do we notice 
the honours paid to the remains of the brave Law- 
rence at Halifax. When the ships arrived in port, a 
generous concern was expressed for his fite. The 
recollection of his humanity towards the crew of the 
Peacock was still fresh in every mind. His funeral 
obsequies were celebrated with appropriate ceremo- 
nials, and an affecting solemnity. His pall was sup- 
ported by the oldest captains in the British service 
that were in Halifax; and the naval officers crowded 
to yield the l^lt sad honours to a man who was late 
their foe, but now their foe no longer. There is a 
sympathy between gallant souls that know no dis- 
tinction of clime or nation. They honour in each 
other what they feel proud of in themselves. The 
group that gathered round the grave of Lawrence pre- 
sented a scene worthy of the heroic days of chivalry. 
It was a complete triumph of the nobler feelings over 
the savRf^e |)assions of war. We know not where 
most to bestow our admiration — on the living, who 



JAMES LAWRENCE. 55t 

t>liowed such generous sensibility to departed vfrtue, 
or on the dead, in being worthy of such obse- 
ques from such spirits. It is by deeds hke these that 
we really feel ourselves subdued. The conflict of 
arms is ferocious, and triunnph does but engender 
more deadly hostility ; but the contest of magnanim- 
ity calls forth the better feelings, and the conquest 
is over the affections. We hope in such a contest we 
may never be outdone. 

As to the event of this battle, deeply as we mourn 
the loss of so many valuable lives, we feel no further 
cause of lamentation. Brilliant as the victory un- 
doubtedly was to the conquerors, our nation lost 
nothing of honour in the conflict. The ship was gal» 
lantly and bloodily defended to the last, and was lost 
not through want of good conduct or determined 
bravery, but from the unavoidable chances of battle. 
It was a victory " over which the conqueror mourn- 
ed — so many suffered." We will not enter into any 
mechanical measurement effect and inches, or any 
nice calculation of force; whether she had a dozen 
men more or less, or were able to throw a (ew poimdfi 
more or less of ball, than her adversary, by way of 
accounting for her defeat ; we leave to nicer calcu- 
lators to balance skill and courage against timber and 
old iron, and mete out victories by the square and 
the steelyard. The question of naval superiority, 
about which so much useless anxiety has been man- 
ifested of late, and which we -fear will cause a vast 
deal of strife and ill blood before it is put to rest, was 
in our opinion settled long since, in the course of the 
five preceding battles. From a general examination 
of these battles, it appears clearly to us, that under 
equal circumstances of force and preparation, the 
nations arc equal on the ocean ; and the result of 
any contest, between well-matched ships, would de- 



MH BIOGRAPHY OF 

pend entirely on accident. This, without anj charge 
of vanity, we may certainly claim. 

Our officers have hitherto been fighting under su- 
perior excitement to the British. They have been 
eager to establish a name, and from their limited 
number, each has felt as if individually responsible 
for the reputation of the navy. Besides, the haugh- 
ty superiority with which they have at various times 
been treated by the enemy, had stung the feelings of 
the officers, and even touch the rough pride of the 
common sailor. They have spared no pains, there- 
fore, to prepare for contest with so formidable a foe, 
and have fought with the united advantages of disci-' 
pline and enthusiawn. 

An equal excitement is now (elt by the British. 
Galled by our successes, they begin to find that we 
are an enemy that calls for all their skill and circum- 
spection. They have therefore resorted to a strict- 
ness of discipline, and to excessive precautions and 
preparations that had been neglected in (heir navy, 
and which no other modern foe has been able to 
compel. Thus circumstanced, every future contest 
must be bloody and precarious. 

For our part we conceive that the great purpose 
of our navy is accomplished. It was not to be ex- 
pected that with so inconsiderable a force, we should 
make any impression on British power, or materially 
aflfect British commerce. We fought not to take 
their ships and plunder their wealth, but to pluck 
some of their laurels wherewith to grace our own 
brows. In this we have succeeded ; and thus the 
great mischief that our little navy was capable of do- 
ing to Great-Britain, in showing that her maritime 
power was vulnerable, lias been effected, and is irre- 
ferievable. 

The British may io future wars swarm on our 



JAMES LAWRENCE. 359 

coasts — they may infest our rivers and our bays — ^ 
they may destroy our ships — they may burn our 
decks and our ports — they may annihilate every gal- 
lant tar that fights beneath our flag — they may wreak 
every vengeance on our marine that their overwhel- 
ming force enables them to accomplish — and after 
all what have they effected ? redeemed the pre-emi- 
nence of their flag? destroyed the naval power of 
this country ? — no such thing. They must first ob- 
literate from the tablets of our memories, that deep- 
traced recollection, that we have repeatedly met 
them with equal force and conquered. In that in- 
spiring idea, which is beyond the reach of mortal 
hand, exists the germ of future navies, future power, 
and future conquest, 

[Jlnahciic Magazine, 



A VIEW 

OF THE PRESENT NAVAL FORCE OF THE UNITED STATES ] 
ITS INCREASE, AND FUTURE PROSPECTS. 



The following is an accurate list of the vessel? 
of war of the United States : — 





Ships of 


the line. 




Columbus 


74 


Independence 


t4 


Chippewa 


74 


New-Orleans 


74 


Franklin 


74 


Washington 


74 


Ohio 


74 








Frigates. 




Constitution 


44 


Java 


4-1 


Congress 


36 


Macedonian 


36 


Constellation 


36 


Mohawk 


32 


Fulton (steam 


frigate) 30 


Superior 


44 


Guerriere 


44 


United States 


44 




Ships, 




Alert 


18 


Louisiana receiving 




Coniiance 


32 


ship 


18 


Cyane 


24 


Ontario 


18 


Erie 


18 


Peacock 


18 


General Pike 


24 


Queen Charlotte 


24 


Hornet 


US 


Saratoga 


22 


John Adams 


24 


Block-ship 


22 



31 



.jO:i 


A VIE 


W OF 






Brigs, 




Detroit 


18 


Niagara 


18 


Enterprize 


12 


Oneida 


14 


Etna 


none 


Ranger 


14 


Jefferson 


18 


Raven 


14 


Jones 


18 


Sylph 


14 


Lawrence 


20 


Spark 


12 


Madison 


18 


Spitfire, (bomb) 






Schooners, 




Asp 


2 


Linnet 


16 


Corporation 


none 


Lynx 


6 


Despatch 


2 


Nonsuch 


6 


Eagle 


12 


Porcupine 


1 


Fox 


4 


Surprize 


6 


Ghent 


1 


Ticonderoga 


14 


Hornet 


6 


Vengeance, (bomb) 





Sloop* 
Lady of the Lake J | 

Besides these, there are numerous gun-boats, bar- 
ges, gallies, &c. The Chippewa and New-Orleans 
ships of the line, the Mohawk and Superior frigates, 
four ships, ten brigs, and six schooners, are on the 
lakes. 

For some years past, and particularly since the late 
war, which aflforded so many brilliant examples of the 
skill and bravery of American seamen, and of the ef- 
ficiency of naval means of warfare, sentiments favour- 
able to a maritime power, have prevailed throughout 
the United States. From the influence of these sen- 
timents, Congress, which, being constituted upon the 
fair representative principle, is the depository of the 



THE NAVAL FORCE, &C. 363 

intelligence, the will, and the interests of the nation, 
has enacted several laws providing for the increase o* 
the navj, and the more efficient direction of its af- 
fairs. 

The law passed in 1815, establishing the board of 
'^ commissioners of the navj,*' formed a new and im- 
portant aera in our naval history. This board con- 
sists of three commissioners, and is attached to the 
office of the secretary of the navy, and under his su- 
perintendence discharges all the ministerial duties o^ 
that office ; the procurement of naval stores and ma- 
terials : the construction, armament, equipment and 
employment of vessels of war, and all other ministeri- 
al duties connected with the navy establishment» 
By the act constituting the board of navy commission- 
ers, they were empowered and directed to prepare, 
with the consent of the secretary of the navy, such 
rales and regulations as might be deemed necessary 
for securing an uniformity in the several classes of 
vessels, and their equipments, and for repairing and 
fitting them, and for securing responsibility in the 
subordinate officers and agents 5 which regulations, 
when approved by the President, were to be respect- 
ed and obeyed, until altered or revoked by the same 
authority. By virtue of this authority, the commia- 
sioners have prepared a system of rules and regula- 
tions for the administration of the naval service. It be. 
ing apprehended that some additional legislative pro- 
visions might be neccss-3ry to give eflfect to theregir 



A VIEW Of 



^atioi)3 which had been adopted, during the last se^ 
iionofCongress a resolution was passed by the Senate, 
requesting information upon this subject from the na»; 
val department, which produced a report from the 
secretary of the navy, who, after suggesting that 
some of the existing regulations required further le- 
gislative provision, recommended that they be revi- 
sed, and reported to Congress, and when adopted* 
expressly made by Icm^ " rules and regulations for 
the government of the navy of the United States.^' 
The establishment of a board of commissioners, 
which has brought into the naval department great 
practical knowledge and experierxe, cannot fail of 
being productive of the most important results, and 
ofgiving promptitude and energy to the administra- 
tion of the naval service. The commissioners must 
be officers of the navy, whose rank shall not be be= 
low a post captain 5 they have a salary of ^3,500 
each per annum, in lieu of wages, rations, and all 
other emoluments, and are authorized to appoint a 
secretary, who has a salary which must not exceed 
^2,000 per annum. 

In 1813, an act was passed by Congress providing 
for the increase of the navy, which authorized the 
President to cause to be built four seventy-four gun 
ships, and six forty-four gun frigates, and the sum of 
two millions five hundred thousand dollars was ap- 
propriated for that object. In 181 6, an act was pas- 
iied, entHled '^'' an act for the gradual increase of the 



THE NAVAL FORCE, &C. 365 

navy of the United States," which appropriated the 
sum of one milhon of dollars per annum, for the pe- 
riod of eight years, including three hundred thousand 
dollars, or the unexpended balance thereof which 
had been appropriated the preceding year. — 
By this act the President was authorized to cause to 
be built nine ships, to rate not less than seventy-four 
guns each, and twelve ships, to rate not less than 
forty-four guns each, including one seventy-four and 
three forty-four gun ships authorized to be built by 
the act of 1 8 1 3, above referred to ; one of the seven- 
ty-fours and three of the forty-fours, authorized 
hy that act not having been built when the act of 
1816 was adopted. The President v/as also author- 
ized by this act to cause to be procured the steam en- 
gines and all the imperishable materials necessary 
for building three steam batteries on the most ap- 
proved plan ; such materials to be secured in the 
best manner to insure the completing such batteries 
in the shortest time practicable, when they, or either 
of them in the opinion of the President may be re- 
quired for the public service. Since the passing of 
this act and under its authority, the Columbus and 
Ohio seventy-fours included in the foregoing list, have 
been built, and there is one seventy-four building at 
Boston, which is soon to be introduced into its des- 
tined element. After the completion of that, our 
navy will comprise eight seventy-four gun ships, or 
six, exclusive of the New-Orleans and Chippewa, ou 



^00 A VIEW OF 

the lake. By the act of 1816, providing tor tht 
gradual increase of the navy of the United States, 
fto far as .he same is unexecuted, there is authoritv 
for building six additional seventy-fours, and nine 
forty-four gun frigates, which is all the addition thai 
can be made to the present navy of the United 
States, by the existing laws. The building of near- 
ly all of the sis seventy-fours, is already commenced, 
and two, one at Philadelphia and one at Norfolk, are 
in such a state of forwardness as to authorize the be- 
lief that they will be launched this season. 

The naval force of the United States, when in- 
creased to the extent authorized by the existing laws, 
will consist of 12 seventy-four gun ships, exclusive 
of two of this class on the lake ; 20 frigates, nearly 
all of forty-four guns, exclusive of two on the lakes ; 
13 ships, rating from thirty-two to fourteen guns ; 14 
brigs, from twenty to twelve guns, and 14 schooners ; 
a part of the ships, brigs and schooners being on the 
lakes. In addition to which are numerous gun-boats, 
barges, galhes, &;c. This will be a very respectable 
marine, and capable of affording very extensive pro» 
tection to our sea-board. 

The expense of maintaining such a navy, that is, 
twelve seventy-fours and 20 forty-four gun frigates, 
in actual service, may be estimated as follows : 

According to the report of the secretary of the na- 
vy, made in 1811, the expense of a single ship of tke 



THE NAVAL i'ORCE, ^C, 367 

ane la actual service, is ^202,1 10 per annum, inclu- 
bive of repairs, and consists of the following items : 



92 officers and petty officers \ 

280 able seamen, V g94j965 
233 ordinary seamen and boys, j 

Pay and clothing of marines, 8,175 

Provisions, 53,970 

Medicine and hospital stores, 5,000 

Repairs and contingencies, 40,000 



^202,110 
This estimate would probably rather fall short 
than exceed the actual expenses. 

Twelve ships at g202,110 each, per annum, is 
^2,425,320. The annual expenses of a forty-four 
gun frigate, in actual service, have been estimated at 
g 134,2 10, exclusive of g 14,200 f>r repairs, making 
in all g 148,4 10. Twenty frigates, at gl 48,4 10 each, 
is g3, 148, 200. — The whole expense of supporting 
in actual service 12 seventy fours and 20 frigates, is 
g5, 393, 520. But, without stopping to inquire wheth- 
er this estimate is sufficiently ample, or whether it 
covers all the contingencies of the service, it is to be 
remembered that, in calculating the expenses of a 
naval or military establishment, not only the direct, 
but the incidental expenses are to be taken into con- 
sideration ; and frequently the latter bear a very 
considerable proportion to the former. Among the 
more important incidental expenses, may be noticed 



368 A VIEW OF 

those arising from pensions, which at the present 
time, in the mihtary department, have become great 
and almost alarming. 

The true policy of the United States, with relation 
to a navy, has long been a subject of discussion, and 
about which very different opinions have been en- 
tertained. At one period there was a very strong 
opposition to a navy throughout the union, but this 
gradually subsided, and, as one extreme usually fol- 
lows another, there is, perhaps, at the present time, 
some reason to apprehend that the public opinion is 
too strongly inclined to the opposite course of poli- 
cy. The brilliant and almost unexampled exploits 
of our infant navy during the late v/ar, excited the 
admiration of all. It not only " fought its way" to 
public favour, and conquered the prejudices which 
remained, but excited universal enthusiasm in its fa- 
vour. The brilliancy of its achievements, probably 
had the more effect, from their being contrasted with 
the disasters which for a long time characterised the 
operations of the army. From a very natural asso- 
ciation of ideas, the admiration of the brilliant 
achievements of our navy, produced very generally 
a " love of naval glory." This is an admirable 
spirit for our naval officers, and all concerned in the 
service, but when it becomes a national spirit, it is 
very dangerous. Whatever may be thought to be 
the true policy of this country as to a navy, it must 
liever be forgotten that its general pohcy, and that 



THE NAVAL FORCE, SlC, 369 

which is alone consistent with its institutions, and up- 
on which its unexampled prosperity has depended, 
IS the maintenance o^ ^pacific character. This must 
ever be the leading policy of the United States, and 
to which all interests must be conducive or subordi- 
nate. If it is ever departed from, no human sagaci- 
ty can foresee what consequences will ensue. A 
spirit of conquest, or the love of military or naval 
glory, if it becomes national, is incompatible with 
that pacific policy which ought always to character- 
JSG the government of this country. The love of 
glory is, to a nation, what the love of ' style' is to an 
individual, both involving the sacrifice of real enjoy- 
ments, for those which are altogether imaginary — 
both destructive of repose and happiness, and tcnd^ 
if persisted in, the one to bankruptcy and ruin, and 
the other to enormous debts, and intolerable taxa- 
tion, which in the end must either so far impoverish 
and degrade the population, as to render them tit 
subjects of despotism, or produce revolutions and in- 
ternal commotions. It is one of the most difficult 
subjects in the administration of a government, whose 
general policy is to maintain a pacitic character, to 
encourage and preserve a military spirit, so far as 
may be necessary for defensive purposes, and to sus- 
tain the honour of the national arms, yet to guard 
against its being so diffused as to effect the peaceful 
habits and pursuits of the inhabitants, and the pacific 
viov/s and character of the nation. It being consid- 



370 



A VIEW OF 



€red as a political axiom that this country is to be 
characterised by a general pacific poHcy, there can 
be little difficulty in deciding the question as to the 
maritime pom er which it ought to maintain. Its mil- 
itary marine ought to be calculated only for defen- 
sive objects, and uliimaidy, should be such as to be 
fully adequate to these objects. It is not necessary 
to inquire here how entensive a naval force is re- 
quired to defend the sea coast of the United States, 
inasmuch as such a marine can, consistent with the 
public interest, be acquired only gradually, as the 
resources of the country are developed, and its pecu- 
niary and physical ability exterided. That its re- 
sources will ultimately, (and at no distant period 
neither,) be fully adequate to the maintenance of 
such a navy, and that the commercial interests of the 
country, the maritime pursuits of our citizens, and 
the high character which our seamen have already 
acquired, afford the most satisRictory assurances that 
such a marine can be manned with brave and skill- 
ful seamen, is most apparent, and what few, proba- 
bly, will be disposed to deny. 

That a naval force is the best, the most effectual, 
and the most economical, both as it respects men and 
money, for the defence of the sea-board, seems now 
to be universally admitted. From the local situa- 
tion of the United States, being separated by an 
ocean of three thousand miles from the powers of 
Europe, having an enxtensive sea <^ast, presenting 



371 

riumerous assailable points, and being assailable in 
no other quarter, having no independent nation as 
neighbours, and from the vast resources of the coun- 
try for supplying all the important materials for a ma- 
rine, nature itself seems to have pointed out a navy 
as the natural, proper, and the most effectual means 
of defence. In the absence of naval means, we must 
rely principally upon the militia for the defence of 
the sea board, inasmuch as it is assailable at so many 
different points, and for such great extent, that, if a 
sufficient body of regular troops could be maintain- 
ed, they could not be so stationed as to meet the sud- 
den attacks and inroads of an enemy, hovering upon 
a coast of fifteen hundred miles in extent. 

From these considerations, and the prevailing sen- 
timents of the people, there can be no doubt but that 
the United States is destined to become a povi^erfui 
maritime nation. That it should aim to become 
such, so far as may be necessary, for all defensive 
and useful purposes, is undoubtedly its true policy — - 
a policy founded in wisdom, and sanctioned by expe- 
rience. But this does not require, as some have sup- 
posed, that we should have a navy equal to that ot 
Great-Britain, and which would enable us to dispute 
with her the dominion of the ocean. From geo- 
graphical and local considerations, we must always 
have great advantages over the British or any other 
power, in maintaining a maritime war upon our own 
coast. From the great distance, and the difficulty 



372 A VIEW OF 

of obtaining supplies, it is impossible for any Euic 
pean nation to maintain a large naval force upon our 
coast for any length of time, not to take into consid- 
eration the perils and vicissitudes to which such an 
armament is exposed, upon a distant and dangerous 
coast, deprived of the benefit and security of ports 
and harbours, and of its utter inability to remain on 
the coast during certain seasons. From these and 
other considerations, a navy comparatively small 
would be adequate to the purposes of defence ; more 
especially if, as during the late war, our officers and 
seamen mai»ntain a decided naval superiority. 

Those who feel friendly to the maritime power ol' 
the United States, ought to be cautious about urging 
unseasonably, its enlargement, as nothing can so 
much endanger its prosperity as its premature exten 

sion. 

It is not to be disguised that a respectable naval 
establishment is attended with a very heavy expense, 
and should such a one be acquired before the nation 
was able to sustain it, whereby it might embarrass 
the treasury, or occasion unusual burdens upon the 
people, it would certainly produce a reaction in the 
public mind ; and considering the nature of our in- 
stitutions, and how immediately every thing depends 
upon popular opinion, it could not be a matter of 
surprise if the navy should fall a sacrifice to it. — 
Such a case has already once occurred in our his-, 
tory. The existing laws have, probably, provided 



RD*9 4 i< 



THE NAVAL FORCE, &C. 373 

for the more rapid increase of the navy than was ad- 
visable ; more especially considering the embarrassed 
state of the treasury, and the probable diminution of 
the imposts, which may render it necessary to have 
recourse to other sources of revenue. With a na- 
tion, as with an individual, it is infinitely easier to 
increase than to diminish expenses ; and with either, 
when a system of expenditure has been adopted, al- 
though it was entirely unnecessary at the time, it is 
extremely difficult to abandon it, or even retrench 
upon it afterwards. It is scarcely possible to oh- 
ierwe too much caution in guarding against the exten- 
iion of the public expenditure. If there is any one 
axiom in politics, established by universal history, 
it is, that all governments, whatever may be their 
form or spirit, tend to a constant increase of expendi- 
ture. We need not add that the United States 
forms no exception to this principle, inasmuch as 
that for the first years after the organization of the 
federal government, its revenue was but between 
three and four millions, and the present year, (1820) 
an estimated revenue of twenty-two millions leaves 
a deficit of more than the whole revenue at the peri- 
od referred to. 

These observations are not made from any views 
unfriendly to a navy, but to shew the necessity of 
proceeding gradually, and ofobservingdue caution in 
its extension. The friends of a navy have no occa- 
sion to be over solicitous. The spirit of the nation 



374 A VIEW OP 

is in their favour, and if would be more conducive 
to the objects they have in view, that it should be 
repressed rather than excited. 

Whoever considers the vast extent of our coun- 
try, its rapid advancement in population, wealth and 
resources ; the industry and enterprize of our citi- 
zens ] the undefined and almost unknown regions of 
pubhc lands, which, whilst they constitute a national 
domain, thai, under a proper system of management, 
would ultimately afford a revenue adequate to the 
whole public expenditure, present every variety of 
surface and of soil, which invite the residence of 
man, and promise a rich reward to agricultural in- 
dustry, and an immense increase of population, must 
be sensible of the ultimate capacity of the United 
States to sustain a large maritime power. They 
will likewise, we believe, be sensible that it is nei- 
ther nescessary nor expedient to increase our navy 
any faster than may correspond with the develope- 
ment of the resources of the country. It is also 
most devoutly to be hoped, that the public mind 
will never become so perverted upon this subject as 
to sanction the opinion that the greatness and glory 
of the United States will depend upon her maritime 
power. We want a navy for a shield, not for a 
scourge. Those who are fascinated with naval glo- 
ry, we would recommend to cast their eyes across 
the Atlantic, and view the present condition of Great- 
Britain, the mistress of the ogean. Her naval su- 



THE NAVAL FORCE, &C. 375 

premacy is now undisputed ; she has maintained a 
long and successful career of naval warfare and glo- 
ry ; she has vanquished and nearly annihilated the 
maritime power of every nation in Europe ; she has 
had her Drakes, her Collingwoods, her Vincents 
and her Nelsons, and what has been the result ? 
What has the nation acquired by the toil and exer- 
tions of two centuries ; by the sacrifice of a hundred 
millions of Hves, and ten hundred millions of treas- 
ure ? If any have any doubts as to these enquiries^ 
we would refer them to the people of that country 
to remove them. Let them ask the widow, whose 
husband was killed in the battle of the Nile, the 
mother whose sons fell at Trafalgar, or the farmer 
whose stock has been sold by the tax-gatherer. Let 
them listen to the sighs of two millions of paupers — 
to the indignant voice of a once brave and magnan- 
imous, but now degraded, oppressed and starving 
population, groaning under the weight of an intole- 
rable system of taxation, and struggHng, as the last 
effort of despair, to throw off the chains which bind 
them, or break them over the heads of their opres^ 
sors. 

Such are the fruits of a spirit of dominion and glo-> 
ry. A far nobler destiny we trust awaits our coun- 
try. The temple of her naval glory can never be 
raised at the expense of her prosperity and happi- 
ness. Her greatest glory, it is to be hoped, will ev- 
er consist in her republican institutions, in a h^^ 



A VlEWj &C* 

press, and iVee suffrage; in the equality, Vibevl), 
independence and intelligence of her citizens ; \r 
that exemption from external wars and inters: ■. v' 
lence, resulting from representative authority, ai 
a pacific policy; in the justice of her governmentj 
the magnitude of her power, and the extent of hr^ 
territory, population and resourcese 



ERRATA. 

Page 148, line 13th from the bottom, for Uamiuiixfidi\ Ham 
ilton. 

Pas:e 150. Parry's ietters— after Western, for LhUt' reat 
Sister, 

Page 314, last line in the text, for molding read movhUrvv. 



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